»Broadway’s first true opera« proclaimed the newspaper headlines following the premiere of »Street Scene« on 9 January 1947 in New York. Kurt Weill’s American opera is based on the play of the same name by Elmer Rice, awarded the Pulitzer Prizein 1929 and filmed two years later. Rice’s socialcriticism is reminiscent of Bertolt Brecht. Fleeting street scenes give some insight into the hearts and minds of the residents of a city district where every day brings a new fight for survival, and where hope alternates with despair. In this work Weill intended spoken dialogue to flow unimpeded into song. Diverse musical forms of expression are brought together, such as the aria, love duet, ensemble number, choir passages, dance music, blues and popular song, to create a seamless whole. After leaving Germany in 1933, Kurt Weill first travelled to Paris before settling in New York. He believed »Street Scene« to possess special qualities, and even predicted that the work would enjoy renewedinterest long after his death. And so now, 64 years after its premiere, »Street Scene« will be performed for the first time in Dresden.
An American opera in two acts by Kurt Weill. Performed in German with surtitles
Running time 3 hours
Premiere 19 Jun 2011
Staging: Bettina Bruinier
Set Design: Volker Thiele
Costume Design: Mareile Krettek
Media Artist: Kerstin Polte
Lighting Design: Davy Cunningham
Kinderchor: Andreas Heinze
Choreography: Carla Börner-Spiewok
Dramaturgy: Nora Schmid
