Customer Reviews

Die Dreigroschenoper: Berlin 1930

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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."

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?

What a wonderful package and recording! Sound is excellent. This is a restored original recording from 1930, with Lotte Lenya et.al.The discs ccome with a complete libretto (in German, English & French), together with photos of the participants, drawings, theatre bills, etc. It is wonderful to hear this as it was performed in 1930. One gets the feel of the times as interpreted in words and music of that year in Germany.Die Dreigroschenoper: Berlin 1930

I used to have the whole Dreigroschenoper on LP's a long long time ago. This recording is not as good, but it seems to be the best that is currently available.