Articles and news related to live appearances

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Publication: LouReviews.Blog
By: Louise Penn
Date: November 18, 2020

More of a dramatic piece than a concert, Ute Lemper (once described as “the new Marlene”) brings back the memory of the progressive woman, “Hollywood icon, chanteuse, soldier”, through song and speech. The woman who phoned her out of the blue back in the 80s, bringing their stories together in this touching show. This is Ute Lemper – Rendezvous With Marlene.

Sumptuously filmed with high production values, Lemper’s show, running at over two hours, is a feast for the eyes and ears. From the first note of Falling in Love Again (sung in German and English), we are in the presence of a practiced cabaret performer celebrating one of the very best. There is love up here on the screen and it shows.

I recall first seeing Lemper performing the catalogue of Kurt Weill. Her phrasing and deep connection to the music was apparent, and evoked memories of the singing of Lotte Lenya in works such as Die Dreigroschenoper. Now in glamorous late middle age, she has grown in style and stature.

Dietrich, of course, is iconic, whether in recordings, on the screen, or as a woman (androgynous, bisexual, polygamous, brave, outspoken, beautiful). Her image from all those black and white photographs, and her deep, husky voice, are instantly recognisable. You can believe she chatted to world leaders from her reclusive home in her final years.

Rendezvous with Marlene is perfect late night viewing, filmed in locked-down New York. Lemper displays a warm intimacy with her band and despite a lack of live audience, engages with the online viewers. Dietrich herself appeared a little more aloof in concert footage late in life, but this is no simple imitation. It is a snapshot in a remarkable life than made an impression on a young performer.

As an admirer of both women, I jumped at the chance to review this film. It inevitably loses that magical atmosphere and power which comes with live theatre and sharing a moment with other audience members and the performers, but Lemper’s respect for her subject is evident throughout and her own brand of allure and musical talent will keep audiences enthralled.

Ute Lemper – Rendezvous With Marlene, filmed at Club Cumming in New York with Alan Cumming and Ute Lemper as producers, will be streamed globally on three evenings. Thu 19 November at 7pm (UK time), Wed 25 November at 1am, and Sat 5 December at 7pm.

Booking link: https://www.stellartickets.com/events/club-cumming-productions/ute-lemper-in-rendezvous-with-marlene. $25 per ticket.

LouReviews received complimentary access to review Rendezvous With Marlene.

Read The original article online here.

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“Dear friends,

I am so glad that we are able to post my Rendezvous with Marlene again for streaming.

After receiving many calls to re-stream the event, we now did some wonderful re-edits and post-production to make it even more magical.

I am so happy to see you all again and stay in touch in the midst of this time out.

Miss you all and much love,
Ute”

Click here to select your tickets to view the re-stream.

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(Click the photo above to see the video)

The Crunch
Text by Charles Bukowski
Music by Ute Lemper

Vocals: Ute Lemper
Piano: Vana Gierig
Drums: Todd Turkisher

“What we need is less false education. What we need is fewer rules, fewer police and more good teachers. We think that hatred signifies strength, that punishment is love. We just need to care….. People are not good to each other. People are just not good to each other.”
(Bukowski)

Across the world, people are uniting to demand justice and force a reckoning with the racist histories of the US and so many other countries. I see young people, my children included, peacefully marching for change in the streets, from my home city of New York all the way to my home country of Germany, and I am proud to stand by them and work peacefully together to build a better and a more just world with real equality of opportunity for education, health care, housing, and economic success for everyone.
(Ute Lemper)

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May 2020, 7pm in New York City, Ute gives a beautiful live Rooftop Performance. You can hear the clapping and singing for the front line workers from her rooftop. Ute sings Paulo Coelho’s beautiful words, which she set to music, and is accompanied by Vana Gierig on piano (click here to view the video).

“There is no such a thing as victory
And there is no such a thing as defeat
In the cycle of nature and life there is movement,
only and always movement
There are neither winners or losers
There are only stages and chapters
That must gone through and lived through
When your heart understands, it can be free…”