Articles and news related to the Brecht and Weill program

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Publication : Portable Infinite
Date: April 3, 2025 

Acclaimed Singer & Actress Ute Lemper Releases “Speak Low”

From New Album Pirate Jenny 

Celebrating Revolutionary Composer Kurt Weill’s 125th Birthday

Out April 25

“Fierce, multilingual chanteuse Ute Lemper” – The New York Times

“She may channel the likes of Dietrich and Piaf, with a strong sense of Jean Ross, but Lemper is still very much her own woman” – The Guardian

“A chanteuse of unique range and ability across all media” – The Washington Post

“It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.” – Ute Lemper on Pirate Jenny

April 3, 2025 – Today, on the 75th anniversary of revolutionary composer Kurt Weill’s passing, acclaimed singer & actress Ute Lemper has released “Speak Low,” the new single from her album Pirate Jenny, out April 25 via The Audiophile Society.

Composed by Kurt Weill for the musical One Touch of Venus, “Speak Low” was inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and popularly performed by Weill’s wife Lotte Lenya, and others such as Tony Bennett, Barbara Streisand, and Sarah Vaughan. With its tender melodies and romantic depth, “Speak Low” remains one of Weill’s most enduring classics, celebrated in both Broadway and jazz circles.

Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya’s legacy continues through the work of artists like Ute Lemper, who, since 1985, has been performing the songs of Weill and other Jewish composers from the Weimar era— whose music was banned and persecuted by the Nazis. She notes that Weill’s works remain relevant today: “Exotic characters fight for survival, rising from the ashes of racism, disadvantage, and neglect—stories that feel strikingly contemporary.”

Lemper will release one more single from the album, title track “Pirate Jenny” (a revolt against the ruling party of the rich) from The Threepenny Opera – full tracklist below. Sultry vocals and atmospheric beats are brought to life with The Audiophile Society’s immersive Mega-Dimensional Sound™, transporting longtime fans and new listeners alike to a smoky Berlin jazz club outside of time, reminiscent of Lemper’s award-winning roles as Cabaret’s Sally Bowles in Paris and Chicago’s Velma Kelly in New York and London.

“This project is about creating a new audience for Kurt Weill,” says Lemper.“By blending his timeless melodies with a groove. I’m opening the door for younger listeners who might not know his work. It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”

A Billboard Crossover Artist of the Year, Lemper has reimagined icons like Marlene Dietrich (Rendezvous with Marlene is based on a three-hour phone call between Dietrich and Lemper), Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, alongside more modern collaborations with artists like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, and Roger Waters (The Wall: Live in Berlin, 1990).

 

Ute Lemper NYC Shows:

Rendezvous With Marlene @ Neue Galerie
Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm ET

Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill @ 54 Below
Tuesday, May 27 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 29 at 7pm ET

Track List

Mack the Knife
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein

Speak Low
Lyrics: Ogden Nash / Music: Kurt Weill
One Touch of Venus

Surabaya Johnny
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
Happy End
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein

My Ship
Lyrics: Ira Gershwin / Music: Kurt Weill
Lady in the Dark

Pirate Jenny
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein

Le Grand Lustucru
Lyrics: Jacques Deval / Music: Kurt Weill
Marie Galante

Ballade vom Ertrunkenen Mädchen
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Flight of Lindbergh

The Salomon Song
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera


Photo Credit: Jim Rackete
Click here for the original article online.

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Publication: Broadwayworld.com
By: Josh Sharpe
Date: April 3, 2025

Photo credit: Jim Rackete

On the 75th anniversary of revolutionary composer Kurt Weill’s passing, acclaimed singer & actress Ute Lemper has released Speak Low, the new single from her album Pirate Jenny, out April 25 via The Audiophile Society.

Composed by Kurt Weill for the musical One Touch of Venus, Speak Low was inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and popularly performed by Weill’s wife Lotte Lenya, and others such as Tony Bennett, Barbara Streisand, and Sarah Vaughan. With its tender melodies and romantic depth, “Speak Low” remains one of Weill’s most enduring classics, celebrated in both Broadway and jazz circles.

Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya’s legacy continues through the work of artists like Ute Lemper, who, since 1985, has been performing the songs of Weill and other Jewish composers from the Weimar era— whose music was banned and persecuted by the Nazis. She notes that Weill’s works remain relevant today: “Exotic characters fight for survival, rising from the ashes of racism, disadvantage, and neglect—stories that feel strikingly contemporary.”

Lemper will release one more single from the album, title track “Pirate Jenny” (a revolt against the ruling party of the rich) from The Threepenny Opera – full tracklist below. Sultry vocals and atmospheric beats are brought to life with The Audiophile Society’s immersive Mega-Dimensional Sound™, transporting longtime fans and new listeners alike to a smoky Berlin jazz club outside of time, reminiscent of Lemper’s award-winning roles as Cabaret’s Sally Bowles in Paris and Chicago’s Velma Kelly in New York and London.

Ute Lemper NYC Shows:

Rendezvous With Marlene @ Neue Galerie
Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm ET

Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill @ 54 Below
Tuesday, May 27 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 29 at 7pm ET

About Ute Lemper:

Ute Lemper’s decades-long career spans stage, film, and music, with over 30 recordings. Renowned for her interpretations of Berlin Cabaret, Kurt Weill, Brecht, and chanson legends like Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf, she has also starred in major musicals across Broadway, the West End, Paris, and Berlin. She won the American Theater World Award and the Laurence Olivier Award for her performance as Chicago’s Velma Kelly in the West End and on Broadway, the Molière Award for her performance as Cabaret’s Sally Bowles in Paris, among others, and earned Grammy nominations.

Her global tours feature diverse projects, including Rendezvous with Marlene, Songs for Eternity, and tributes to Piazzolla and Brecht. She has composed music inspired by Bukowski, Neruda, and Coelho and released a bestselling autobiography in 2023. She released her self-penned and contemporary album Time Traveler just last year. Singing in five languages, she continues to perform worldwide. A longtime New York resident, she lives there with her family and four children.

Photo Credit: Jim Rackete

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Publication: Jazz Chill Music
Date: March 29, 2025

Acclaimed singer and actress Ute Lemper is set to release her highly anticipated new album, Pirate Jenny, on April 25 via The Audiophile Society. The album marks a special tribute to Kurt Weill, the revolutionary composer, in celebration of his 125th birthday. Nearly four decades after her groundbreaking album Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill, Lemper presents a fresh, electrifying reimagining of Weill’s iconic songs, blending his timeless melodies with a modern groove.

First Single “Mack the Knife” Now Available

To kick off the celebration, Ute Lemper has released the first single, “Mack the Knife”, on March 2—the very day of Kurt Weill’s 125th birthday. This marks the beginning of a journey through Weill’s music, with upcoming singles like “Speak Low” from One Touch of Venus and “Pirate Jenny” from The Threepenny Opera.

Pirate Jenny showcases Lemper’s sultry vocals and atmospheric beats, merging classic Weill with modern rhythms. With The Audiophile Society’s Mega-Dimensional Sound™, the album transports listeners to a smoky Berlin jazz club, evoking the spirit of Lemper’s iconic roles as Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Velma Kelly in Chicago.

A Bridge Between Eras: “Weimar Meets the Club”

Lemper explains her vision for Pirate Jenny: “This project is about creating a new audience for Kurt Weill by blending his timeless melodies with a contemporary groove. I’m opening the door for younger listeners who might not know his work. It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”

Live Performances at 54 Below

To further bring Pirate Jenny to life, Lemper will perform some of Weill’s most beloved classics live at 54 Below in New York City on Tuesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 29. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience these unforgettable songs in an intimate setting.

A Legacy of Reinvention: Ute Lemper’s Musical Journey

A Billboard Crossover Artist of the Year, Ute Lemper has built an illustrious career that spans a wide range of musical styles. Known for her powerful interpretations of legends like Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, and Jacques Brel, Lemper has also collaborated with modern icons such as Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, and Roger Waters (in The Wall: Live in Berlin).

With Pirate Jenny, Lemper reinvents Kurt Weill’s classic works for today’s audience, blending cabaret, jazz, and groove into a thrilling new experience. This album is not just a revival—it’s a re-invention of the music that shaped generations.

Tracklist & More

  • First Single: “Mack the Knife” – Available Now
  • Full Album Release: Pirate Jenny – Out April 25, 2024
  • Live Performances: Ute Lemper at 54 Below – May 27 & 29, 2024

Click here to view original article online

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Publication: EINPresswire
By: Andrew Gesner
Date: March 18, 2025

Musical Theatre Icon Ute Lemper releases her reimagined take of “Mack The Knife”

ROSELLE PARK, NJ, GERMANY, March 18, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Everybody knows the tune. But not everyone realizes the meaning that animates the song. “Mack the Knife” is one of the true standards of International pop and jazz — a song with an instantly recognizable melody, an intoxicating sway, and an undercurrent of thrilling menace. It’s also a broadside against the powers, an examination of corruption, and a warning shot directed toward the rich and powerful. Composer Kurt Weill and lyricist Bertolt Brecht were two of the original dissidents in international popular culture, and they poured their critique of manners and money-worship into The Threepenny Opera, their staggeringly influential 1928 musical. Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin have recorded the tale of the murderous Macheath; Jim Morrison used to turn to it when he wanted to add a little extra drama to his dangerous performances. Now, it’s been cut by one of the first voices of musical theater: the incomparable Ute Lemper.

The new version of “Mack the Knife” is the introductory track on Pirate Jenny, a full-length tribute to the music of Kurt Weill that includes plenty of words by Bertold Brecht, too. The collection of groundbreaking songs gives Lemper plenty of latitude to do what she does best — dazzle audiences with her interpretive singing, nuanced understanding of character, and musical daring. In a sense, she’s carried Brecht and Weill with her throughout her career: she’s brought their incisive sensibility to all of her roles, especially her famous turn as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, a show filled with musical and lyrical allusions to The Threepenny Opera. For many longtime listeners, Pirate Jenny will sound like a homecoming.

At the same time, Lemper’s take on “Mack the Knife” is a radical one, informed by contemporary trends and current events. She reconstructs the harmonic underpinnings of the song and introduces a beat that alludes to trip-hop and experimental pop. Lemper also fully inhabits the character, emphasizing Macheath’s amorality, his restlessness, and his bloodlust. In a clip she directed herself, she takes on the role of the killer, fitting herself with reflective sunglasses and drifting through a slumbering New York City. Her Macheath sails straight past the banks and the police cars — symbols of authority — intent as she is on a mission that has taken on chilling vengeful overtones. Lemper interspersed clips from her celebrated 1990 performance of “Bouffes Du Nord.” It is, simultaneously, a reminder of her stellar history, where she’s going, and who she has always been.

More Ute Lemper at HIP Video Promo
More Ute Lemper on her website
More Ute Lemper on Instagram

Andrew Gesner
HIP Video Promo
+1 732-613-1779
info@hipvideopromo.com

Click here to read he article on EINPresswire’s site

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Publication: Fox40
By: Andrew Gesner
Date: March 18, 2025

Musical Theatre Icon Ute Lemper releases her reimagined take of “Mack The Knife”

ROSELLE PARK, NJ, GERMANY, March 18, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Everybody knows the tune. But not everyone realizes the meaning that animates the song. “Mack the Knife” is one of the true standards of International pop and jazz — a song with an instantly recognizable melody, an intoxicating sway, and an undercurrent of thrilling menace. It’s also a broadside against the powers, an examination of corruption, and a warning shot directed toward the rich and powerful. Composer Kurt Weill and lyricist Bertolt Brecht were two of the original dissidents in international popular culture, and they poured their critique of manners and money-worship into The Threepenny Opera, their staggeringly influential 1928 musical. Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin have recorded the tale of the murderous Macheath; Jim Morrison used to turn to it when he wanted to add a little extra drama to his dangerous performances. Now, it’s been cut by one of the first voices of musical theater: the incomparable Ute Lemper.

The new version of “Mack the Knife” is the introductory track on Pirate Jenny, a full-length tribute to the music of Kurt Weill that includes plenty of words by Bertold Brecht, too. The collection of groundbreaking songs gives Lemper plenty of latitude to do what she does best — dazzle audiences with her interpretive singing, nuanced understanding of character, and musical daring. In a sense, she’s carried Brecht and Weill with her throughout her career: she’s brought their incisive sensibility to all of her roles, especially her famous turn as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, a show filled with musical and lyrical allusions to The Threepenny Opera. For many longtime listeners, Pirate Jenny will sound like a homecoming.

At the same time, Lemper’s take on “Mack the Knife” is a radical one, informed by contemporary trends and current events. She reconstructs the harmonic underpinnings of the song and introduces a beat that alludes to trip-hop and experimental pop. Lemper also fully inhabits the character, emphasizing Macheath’s amorality, his restlessness, and his bloodlust. In a clip she directed herself, she takes on the role of the killer, fitting herself with reflective sunglasses and drifting through a slumbering New York City. Her Macheath sails straight past the banks and the police cars — symbols of authority — intent as she is on a mission that has taken on chilling vengeful overtones. Lemper interspersed clips from her celebrated 1990 performance of “Bouffes Du Nord.” It is, simultaneously, a reminder of her stellar history, where she’s going, and who she has always been.

More Ute Lemper at HIP Video Promo
More Ute Lemper on her website
More Ute Lemper on Instagram

Andrew Gesner
HIP Video Promo
+1 732-613-1779
info@hipvideopromo.com