The Three Penny Opera

July 15, 2007 6:06 AM

KurtWeill's Opera by and for Beggars. Charlie Haden and Kurt Weill, Teresa Stratas accordions, William S Burroughs, Betty Carter, PJ Harvey, Lou Reed, Stan Ridgeway, The Persuasions, Ghettoriginal Dance Company,Teresa Stratas, David Johansen
posted by hortense (19 comments total)

Every thing you ever wanted to know about the guy who wrote that Jim Morrison song.
posted by hortense at 6:11 AM on July 15, 2007

Up until I picked up Hal Wilner's "Lost in the Stars" I only knew Weil as the Mack the Knife guy. But I was big Wall of Voodoo fan and picked it up just to hear the Stan Ridgeway cut, which is a pretty kick ass version of the Cannon Song. The album made me seek out lots of other Kurt Weil, so I'll always be grateful for it. I just realized that album came out more than 20 years ago! And I never even knew there was a video clip of "Cannon Song", so thanks!
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 6:32 AM on July 15, 2007

Burroughs, sir. A burrow, I suppose, is where a mugwump might live.
posted by grabbingsand at 6:33 AM on July 15, 2007

Thanks hortense! I love the Kurt Weill version of Speak Low.
posted by vacapinta at 6:37 AM on July 15, 2007

See also.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:43 AM on July 15, 2007

The above link: more details on the record Slack-a-gogo mentioned.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:45 AM on July 15, 2007

One of the YouTubers nailed it when he said David Johansen has that Tom Waits vibe goin'.
posted by RavinDave at 7:14 AM on July 15, 2007

That PJ Harvey "Soldier's Wife" is a great performance: beautiful arrangement (sorta Tom Wait-sy), and she pulls it off really well. I like music videos that are just one continuous shot. Feels real.

The Persuasions sound fabulous as always, too. What a beautiful song that is, "Oh Heavenly Salvation". Ol' Kurt was a helluva songster.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:28 AM on July 15, 2007

I once saw the Persuasions supporting Lou Reed. They blew him off the stage.

Also, obligatory
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:44 AM on July 15, 2007

Don't forget about McDonald's.

Also, more from Brecht, who's gone oddly unmentioned.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:03 AM on July 15, 2007

The Young Gods also cover Kurt Weill, and really well, too.
Youtube "September Song", TYG official site - The Young Gods Play Kurt Weill.
posted by Zack_Replica at 9:31 AM on July 15, 2007

[repaired spelling]
posted by jessamyn at 10:10 AM on July 15, 2007

vacapinta, did you here this one?
posted by hortense at 10:26 AM on July 15, 2007

Re: hortense's link (above) ... I realize that about 80% of already know who Lenya is, but the other 20% might get a kick out of knowing.
posted by RavinDave at 10:37 AM on July 15, 2007

Oh, wow. The September Songs album has been one that I have kept returning to year after year. I suppose that I might have known that there was a video for all of the songs, but I must have forgotten. Thank you for posting this, hortense!
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 2:58 PM on July 15, 2007

Marianne Faithfull sings Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins with the Vienna Philharmonic - English language version, with W H Auden pitching in with the translation.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:01 PM on July 15, 2007

Ute Lemper
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:46 PM on July 16, 2007

Marianne Faithfull took my dreams away.
posted by homunculus at 8:05 PM on July 16, 2007

oooh - that's nice, homunculus.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:00 AM on July 17, 2007