Chapter 70 Musical Theater in Germany in the 1920s: Berg and Weill

Lecture Overview Naturalism and expressionism in literature and opera Georg Büchner and Woyzeck Alban Berg: –life and works –Wozzeck, Act 3, scene 2 Bertolt Brecht and epic theater Kurt Weill: –life and works –The Threepenny Opera, Ballad of Mac the Knife Review

The Life of Alban Berg (1885–1935) 1885 born in Vienna 1904 becomes the private student of Arnold Schoenberg 1925 breaks through to recognition as a composer with the premiere of the opera Wozzeck in Berlin 1935 dies in Vienna from blood poisoning

Principal Compositions by Alban Berg Operas: –Wozzeck –Lulu (incomplete) Orchestra: character pieces, a Chamber Concerto, and Violin Concerto Chamber music: String Quartet, Op. 3; Lyric Suite for string quartet, Piano Sonata Songs: about 100

Main Characters in Alban Berg’s Opera Wozzeck (1914–1922) Wozzeck –a poor soldier Marie –his common-law wife Drum Major –a crude and brutal figure in Wozzeck’s regiment Doctor –performs medical experiments on Wozzeck Captain –of the regiment

Alban Berg, Wozzeck, 1914–1922, Act 3, scene 2 Through-composed form

The Life of Kurt Weill (1900–1950) 1900 born in Dessau (between Leipzig and Berlin) 1918 attends Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, studying with Engelbert Humperdinck studies with Ferruccio Busoni and Philipp Jarnach in Berlin 1928 scores great success with The Threepenny Opera in Berlin 1933 flees from Hitler, first to Paris, later to New York 1936 begins to compose Broadway musicals 1950 dies in New York

Principal Compositions by Kurt Weill Operas and Shows: about 30 works including –The Threepenny Opera –One Touch of Venus –The Lady in the Dark –Street Scene Orchestra: includes symphonies (2), Violin Concerto Songs: many collections Chamber music: includes a String Quartet and Sonata for cello and piano

Main Characters in Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera (1928) Macheath (“Mac the Knife”) –a highwayman and murderer Peachum –runs a beggar’s supply shop Polly Peachum’s daughter –in love with Mac Jenny –an old flame of Mac Sheriff Brown –bought off by Mac Lucy Brown’s daughter –another old flame of Mac

Kurt Weill, Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera, 1928, Ballad of Mac the Knife) Strophic form

Review Key Terms naturalism expressionism Georg Büchner Johann Christian Woyzeck Gebrauchsmusik (“music for use”) Bertolt Brecht The Beggar’s Opera epic theater