Die Dreigroschenoper: Berlin 1930 [Original recording remastered]

Kurt Weill (Composer), Rudolf Nelson (Composer), Friedrich Hollaender (Composer), Wilhelm Grosz (Composer), Theo Mackeben (Conductor), Lewis Ruth Band (Performer), Lotte Lenya & The Three Admirals (Performer), Peter Kreuder & His Orchestra (Performer), Theo Mackeben & His Orchestra (Performer), Theo Mackeben and His Ultraphon Jazz Orchestra (Orchestra), Rudolf Nelson (Performer), Kurt Gerron (Performer), Erika Helmke (Performer), Lotte Lenya (Performer), Erich Ponto (Performer), Willi Trenk-Trebitsch (Performer), Marlene Dietrich (Performer), Curt Bois (Performer), Jacques Henley (Performer), Margo Lion (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Lewis Ruth Band, Lotte Lenya & The Three Admirals, Peter Kreuder & His Orchestra, Theo Mackeben & His Orchestra, Rudolf Nelson, et al.
• Orchestra: Theo Mackeben and His Ultraphon Jazz Orchestra
• Conductor: Theo Mackeben
• Composer: Kurt Weill, Rudolf Nelson, Friedrich Hollaender, Wilhelm Grosz
• Audio CD (February 18, 2003)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Teldec
• ASIN: B00005Y34P
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,890 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #95 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Tango

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful original recording, plenty extras., September 11, 2006

By 

Gluedisc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Die Dreigroschenoper: Berlin 1930 (Audio CD)

In quick summary:
- If you're at all familiar with the Dreigroschenoper and all its incarnations, be sure to buy this album. It's the closest you could get to an 'original'.
- If you're completely new to the Threepenny story, I would recommend starting with the 1999 Nina Hagen concert version instead. It's got all the songs left out here, better recording quality, and a more modern approach to the music.

This is not a complete collection of original cast Dreigroschen songs. Rather, it's a selection of the best tracks from the play, often censored and cut short (in all the usual ways), and filled up with seemingly random extras in the genre.

The performers are all quite brilliant, and it's refreshing to hear a 3P without all the screaming and biting from recent versions. Though the songs are by no means slow, they're much more relaxed, more saccharine I would say, than what they've later evolved into. I love both type interpretations, but I often prefer this one.

One very nice bonus is the inclusion of a handful Threepenny songs in French. Otherwise pretty hard to come by. Also, the famous final lines of the movie version (Moritat reprise) are present, which I've only seen in one other recording (the 1981, also led by Miss Lotte Lenya). All in all, an essential CD for Brecht/Weill fans.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one is really fine., March 2, 2006

By 

William S. Kalenborn (Rochester, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Die Dreigroschenoper: Berlin 1930 (Audio CD)

I've been a three-penny freak ever since I was a hanger-on at a Stanford production 40 years ago directed by a Brecht associate from Berlin. It's wonderful to get the authentic original cast records. I really like the added Berlin Chansons, too. "Don't Goggle at that Tango Dancer, Keep Your Eyes on the Guy You Came with!" Or Marlene Dietrich, with "Jonny, When it's Your Birthday, I'll Be Your Guest for a Night."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The original cast--the real thing., March 11, 2008

By 

Uncle Willie (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Die Dreigroschenoper: Berlin 1930 (Audio CD)

You can buy lots of different versions, old and new, German and English, of The Three Penny Opera. This is the original "Dreigroschenoper," done with the cast and orchestra of Brecht and Weill. Be ready for culture shock, but--isn't that what you're looking for?