Compact Discoveries 158: The Threepenny Opera

Series: Compact Discoveries
From: Fred Flaxman
Length: 00:58:30

Mack the Knife and his gang return with Kurt Weill's famous songs. Read the full description.
158_Threepenny_Opera
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Piece Description

Producer/presenter Fred Flaxman gives the history of the famous Theater de Lys production in Greenwich Village in New York while at the same time presenting the story and music from the original cast recording. This unusual "opera for beggars" is filled with catchy tunes and humorous, if cynical, lyrics.

Transcript

Program 158
"The Threepenny Opera"

MUSIC: Weill: Overture from The Threepenny Opera performed by the original Theater de Lys, New York City, cast [Decca 012 159 463-2, track 2] [under the following]

This is an overture to a very unusual opera. A “Threepenny Opera,” called as such because it was written for beggars, and had to be cheap enough for a beggar to afford it. The music was composed by Kurt Weill. The original text was by Bert Brecht. The English adaptation of the book and lyrics was by Marc Blitzstein. I’ll tell you the fascinating story of its success, failure and renewed success in a moment.

Hello and welcome to Compact Discoveries. I’m your guide, Fred Flaxman.

MUSIC: ends

In the early 1960s the American composer, Marc Blitzstein, said: “I wish I had written The Threepenny Opera. But since I merely translated it into English and adapted it for American audiences, I c...
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