Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Kurt Weill, focusing on how the composer responded to the rise of Adolf Hitler.

The Weimar Republic's golden years were good to Weill. But by the early 1930s the landscape had changed dramatically. Unemployment was causing real hardship and he recognised there was a demand for a different kind of musical theatre.

Overture: Der Silbersee
London Sinfonietta
Markus Stenz (conductor)
RCA Red Seal 09026634472 CD1 Tr 1

Der Silbersee (excerpt from Act 3)
Frau von Luber ...... Helga Dernesch (soprano)
Baron Laur ...... Heinz Zednik (tenor)
London Sinfonietta
Markus Stenz (conductor)
Red Seal 09026634472 CD2 Tr 11

Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (excerpt)
Jenny ...... Lotte Lenya
Mrs Begbick ...... Gisela Litz
Jimmy Mahoney ...... Heinz Sauerbaum
Bill ...... Georg Mund
Jake Schmidt ...... Fritz Gollnitz
Joe ...... Sigmund Roth
Speaker ...... Richard Munch
Orchestra of North German Radio
Max Thurn (conductor)
CBS Masterworks M2K 77341 Trs 5, 6, 7 and 8

Seven Deadly Sins (ballet)
Brigitte Fassbaender (mezzo-soprano)
Karl-Heinz Brandt, Hans Sojer (tenor)
Hidenori Komatsu (baritone)
Ivan Urbas (bass)
Radio-Philharmonie Hannover des NDR
Cord Garben (conductor)
Harmonia mundi HMC 901420 Tr 1-9 Show less