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Die Verheißung and New Weill Concert Suites at the 25th Annual Kurt Weill Fest

Mar. 01, 2017

<em>Die Verheißung</em> and New Weill Concert Suites at the 25th Annual Kurt Weill Fest

The 25th annual Kurt Weill Fest continues in Dessau, Germany, with appearances by renowned Weill interpreters and premieres of two new suites from Weill’s stage works.

At the Gala Concert on March 4, James Holmes conducts the premiere of his suite from Der Kuhhandel. The concert also features festival favorites soprano Ute Gfrerer, trombonist Nils Landgren, and the Ensemble Modern on a program celebrating Kurt Weill’s birthday, and the festival’s milestone anniversary. On March 12, HK Gruber leads the Ensemble Modern in the world premiere of Chansons des quais (Songs of the Quays), a new suite of music from Marie Galante for soprano, male quartet, and chamber orchestra.

Other main events include concerts by resident artists the MDR Sinfonieorchester and conductor Kristjan Järvi, including a performance of Die Verheißung (The Road of Promise) on March 5. Järvi and the MDR wrap up the festival on March 12 with a performance of Braver Soldat Johnny, a concert adaptation of Johnny Johnson. See the complete lineup of festival events here.

Other performances of note this month include Symphony No. 2 at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London (March 10); Suite panaméenne with the Ensemble Modern in Frankfurt (March 16); and Symphony No. 1 with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, conducted by Frank Strobel (March 18). The final run of Robert Wilson’s iconic production of Die Dreigroschenoper with the Berliner Ensemble kicks off March 17.

For the complete list of performances coming up this month, visit kwf.org.

Kurt Weill
Der Kuhhandel (1978)
(A Kingdom for a Cow)
operetta in two acts
Text (Ger) by Robert Vambery
Compiled and edited by Lys Symonette
English text version of Jeremy Sams
for 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, boy soprano, 12 tenors, 9 baritones, bass baritone, speaking roles, girl's choir and SATB chorus
2(2pic).1.2(1.asax, 2.tsax).1-1.2.2.1-timp.4perc-gtr(banjo, bgtr).hp.org or harm(acc)-str
120'

Marie Galante (1934)
play with music in two acts
lyrics by Jacques Deval
for soprano, 2 mezzo-soprano, tenor, high baritone, baritone and chorus
asax(fl, cl)asax(cl)tsax(asax)-2tp.1tbn. piano.acc. gtr(bnj)-perc-2vn.va.db
full evening, 35 minutes of music

The Road of Promise (Die Verheißung) (2012)
Oratorio adapted from The Eternal Road, by Ed Harsh
Original German text by Franz Werfel; English lyrics by Ludwig Lewisohn, William A. Drake, 
and Charles Alan
2(2pic).1.3.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc-hp.pno.synth.gtr-str
105'

Johnny Johnson (1936)
a play with music in three acts
text (Eng) by Paul Green
for 2 sopranos, tenor, 4 baritones and actors
Reed 1(cl, Ebcl, bcl).Reed 2(cl, bcl, asax, bsax)-2tpt.tbn-timp.perc-Hammond org(pno)-gtr(banjo)-2vn.vc
65' 

Symphony No. 1 “Berliner Sinfonie” (1921)
for orchestra
2(2.pic).1.2(2.bcl).2-2.1.1.0-timp.3perc-str
25’

Symphony No. 2 (1933-1934)
for orchestra
2(2.pic).2.2.2-2.2.2.0-timp.3perc-str
25’

Suite panaméenne (Panamanian Suite) (1934)
instrumental suite from “Marie Galante”
Tango (first movement) reconstructed by H.K. Gruber
for orchestra
2.0.0.asax(fl, cl).asax(cl).tsax(ssax).0-2.0.1.0-perc-pno.acc.gtr(banjo)-str(1.1.1.0.1)
11’

Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera) (1928)
play with music after John Gay's "The Beggar's Opera"; in three acts
German translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann
adaptation and lyrics by Bertolt Brecht
2S, 2Mz, T, Bar, B-Bar and speaking roles
asax(fl, cl, bsax).tsax(ssax, bsn, bcl)-tpt.tbn(db)-banjo(vc, gtr, Hawaiian gtr, mandolin, bandoneon)-timp/perc (tpt 2)-harm (cel, pno)
full evening

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