Kurt Weill: Historic Original Recordings 1928–1944 – The Threepenny Opera & More (2-CD Set)

Product Information

• UPC: 0845221050614
• Label: Capriccio
• Format: 2 Audio CDs
• Recording Period: 1928 to 1944 (Historic Original Recordings)
• Release Year: 1990 (reissued 2011)
• Catalog: Capriccio, 1010 Vienna, Austria
• Sound Restoration: Archive recordings digitally reconstructed by Hugo Gneipelt
• Packaging: Includes detailed booklet with full recording information

Overview

This exceptional 2-CD collection presents historic original recordings of the legendary composer Kurt Weill’s seminal works from 1928 to 1944. Anchored by selections from Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), this set also features songs from Mahagonny, Happy End, Silbersee, and others, including performances by original cast members and eminent artists such as Lotte Lenya and Ernst Busch.

Conducted and arranged by musical visionaries such as Theo Mackeben and Otto Klemperer, these recordings capture the revolutionary spirit of Weill’s music—combining sharp social critique, theatrical innovation, and jazz influences with a powerful vocal and orchestral presence. The restoration work by Hugo Gneipelt brings these rare archival treasures to life, preserving the original performances’ raw energy and authenticity.

Product Features

• Format: 2-CD set with digitally restored historic recordings
• Genre: Opera, Musical Theatre, Early 20th Century Classical

• Included Works:

  Artists Featured: Lotte Lenya (vocals, piano), Ernst Busch, Harald Paulsen, Carola Neher, and the Kapelle der Staatsoper Berlin conducted by Otto Klemperer
  • Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), historic original recordings with original cast (1928–1931)
  • Selections from Kleine Dreigroschenmusik for wind orchestra (1929)
  • Mahagonny (including Alabama-Song)
  • Happy End
  • Der Silbersee
  • Lotte Lenya performances (piano and vocals)
  • Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny)
  • Rare songs and dance arrangements
• Sound Restoration: Digitally reconstructed for enhanced audio clarity and preservation of historical authenticity

Interesting Facts

• Original Cast Members: Includes recordings with members of the original Threepenny Opera premiere cast (1928–1930), offering an irreplaceable glimpse into the work’s early interpretations.
• Kurt Weill’s Legacy: Weill is renowned for blending classical music with popular styles such as jazz and cabaret, and this collection captures that innovative fusion at its source.
• Lotte Lenya: Kurt Weill’s wife and muse, Lenya’s distinctive vocal performances are featured prominently, underscoring her central role in bringing Weill’s work to life.
• Historical Sound Reconstruction: Hugo Gneipelt’s meticulous restoration work revives these fragile early recordings with a remarkable balance of clarity and historical warmth.
• Cultural Impact: This set is essential for collectors and enthusiasts of Weill’s music, German theatre, and early 20th-century music history.

Publishers

Released by Capriccio, Vienna, Austria. Made in Austria. For more information visit www.capriccio.at.

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