Weill: Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny - Witte, Arnold, Stilo, Frei, Schreier; Fricke. Berlin, 1964

Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny Kurt Weill (1900 - 1950) DESCRIPTION This compelling performance of Kurt Weill's Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny took place just 34 years after its 1930 premiere—before the opera was banned by the Nazis in 1933. That closeness to the cultural landscape of Weimar-era Germany lends the performance a striking authenticity, arguably more so than Lotte Lenya's more polished but somewhat sterile recording. Erich Witte imbues Jimmy Mahoney with Wagnerian grandeur, while Irmgrad Arnold’s slightly worn vocal quality serves the world-weary character of Jenny exceptionally well. The rest of the cast delivers strong performances, with a young Peter Schreier making an impression as Jack O'Brian. CAST Jenny – IRMGARD ARNOLDJimmy Mahoney – ERICH WITTELeokadja Begbick – GERTRUD STILODreieinigkeitsmoses – GERHARD FREIFatty, der Prokurist – HARALD NEUKIRCHJack O'Brian – PETER SCHREIERBill – KURT REHMJoe – ROLF KÜHNE DETAILS Location: BerlinDate: 1964C