Krenek, Weill & the Moderns

Dessau

Weill and Krenek were born in 1900; both men were leading figures in the culturally fertile period of the Weimar Republic; and both artists escaped persecution under the Nazis by fleeing to America. Their artistic impact before the Second World War is exemplified in The Threepenny Opera and Jonny spielt auf, works which ushered in a new type of music theatre that revolutionized artistic expression in music and drama.

The 24th Kurt Weill Festival will be running from 26 February until 13 March. In this year, the Kurt Weill Festival Dessau has partnered up with the Ernst Krenek Institut Privatstiftung to present more than 60 events in Dessau and environs.

Find a selection of the programme below or read the full programme on the website of the Kurt Weill Festival Dessau.

Programme (selection)

Ernst Krenek: Violin Concerto No. 1
for violin and orchestra | 21'
26.2.2016, Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau; Ernst Kovacic, vln; Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, cond. Ariane Matiakh

Kurt Weill: The Tsar has his photograph taken
opera buffa in one act | 60'
Ernst Krenek: Der Diktator
tragical opera in 1 act | 35'
28.2. and 5.3.2016, Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau; Solisten des Anhaltischen Theater Dessau; Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau, cond. Daniel Carlberg

Kurt Weill: The Threepenny Opera
concert performance
4.3.2016, Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau; Macheath, Michael Laurenz; Herr Peachum, HK Gruber; Frau Peachum, Anke Vondung; Polly, Ute Gfrerer; kammerchor cantamus halle; Ensemble Modern, cond. HK Gruber

Kurt Weill: Concerto
for violin and wind orchestra | 33'
Ernst Krenek: Potpourri
for orchestra | 12'
10. and 11.3.2016, Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau; Ernst Kovacic, vln; Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau, cond. Ernst Kovacic

Ernst Krenek: 2. Concerto grosso
for violin, viola, violoncello and orchestra | 30'
13.03.2016, Anhaltisches Theater, Dessau; Berliner Singakademie; Orchester der Komischen Oper Berlin; cond. Giedrė Šlekytė