Kurt Weill - Songs (Eleni Lydia Stamellou; Alexandra Listova)

Information

Composer: Kurt Weill

1. Alabama Song (1927)
2. Buddy on the Nightshift (1942)
3. Die Ballade Von Der Sexuellen Hörigkeit (1966)
4. Je Ne T'aime Pas (1933)
5. Le Roi D'aquitaine (1934)
6. Le Train Du Ciel (1934)
7. September Song (1938)
8. Johnny's Song ('To Love You and to Lose You') [1936]
9. Stay Well (1949)
10. Speak Low (1943)
11. Und Was Bekam Des Soldaten Weib? (1942)
12. Nanna's Lied (1939)
13. Salomon-Song (1929)
14. Zu Potsdam Unter Den Eichen (1928)
15. Youkali (1946)

Eleni Lydia Stamellou, soprano

Alexandra Listova, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Brilliant

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Description

Kurt Weill (1900-1950) was a German-born composer whose work bridged the worlds of classical music, cabaret, and theater. Renowned for his collaborations with playwright Bertolt Brecht, Weill became a defining voice of the Weimar Republic, crafting a musical language that fused biting social commentary with popular idioms such as jazz, tango, and dance-band rhythms. His songs are remarkable for their wit, directness, and deep humanity - qualities that make them as relevant today as they were in the politically charged 1920s and 1930s.

Weill’s complete songs for voice and piano reveal the breadth of his artistic vision. Early works show his roots in late-Romanticism and his training under Ferruccio Busoni. However, it was through his partnership with Brecht that Weill found his distinctive style. His Songs blend satirical text with deceptively simple melodies, creating unforgettable portraits of urban life and moral ambiguity. Similarly, Mahagonny-Songspiel (1927), Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (1930) and Die Dreigroschenoper offer songs of ironic beauty that expose the corruption and absurdity of modern society.

After emigrating to the United States in 1935, Weill reinvented himself once again, writing in English and embracing Broadway while retaining his sharp social awareness. American songs such as “September Song” (Knickerbocker Holiday, 1938), “Speak Low” (One Touch of Venus, 1943), display a haunting lyricism and emotional clarity that transcend genre.

Collectively, Weill’s songs for voice and piano form a rich and multifaceted body of work -at once sophisticated and accessible, European and American, classical and popular- embodying the restless creativity of one of the twentieth century’s most original musical voices.

Greek soprano Eleni Lydia Stamellou was Prize Winner at the Ferruccio Tagliavini Competition in Austria, with Dame Joan Sutherland as the president of the jury. She subsequently attended masterclasses given by Teresa Berganza, Edda Moser and Christa Ludwig. She sang in opera productions with MusicAeterna conducted by Teodor Currentzis. Her specialization is Renaissance/Baroque and Contemporary Music. She sang in productions of Berio and Hersant. Her excellent piano partner is Alexandra Listova.

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Kurt Weill (March 2, 1900 – April 3, 1950) was a German-born American composer. He showed early musical talent and received formal training in Berlin, studying under teachers including Engelbert Humperdinck and Ferruccio Busoni. Weill rose to prominence in Germany through collaborations with playwrights like Georg Kaiser and especially Bertolt Brecht, with whom he created The Threepenny Opera (1928). However, as a Jewish composer, his career in Germany was cut short by the rise of the Nazi regime. Fleeing to the U.S. in 1935, Weill became a key figure on Broadway, collaborating with top American writers.

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Eleni Lydia Stamellou is an Athens-based soprano specializing in Renaissance and contemporary repertoire. A two-time Onassis Foundation scholar, she studied voice across leading European conservatories and trained in acting in New York and Perm. She is a member of MusicAeterna under Teodor Currentzis and has performed extensively with the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre. Her international appearances include major venues such as Teatro Real, Konzerthaus Dortmund, and the Salzburg Festival. Stamellou has received recognition in prestigious competitions and collaborated with renowned conductors and directors.

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Alexandra Listova is a Russian pianist who graduated from the St. Petersburg State Conservatory in 2016. Her artistic focus includes contemporary music, supported by her 2021 internship with the Moscow Ensemble of Contemporary Music and participation in the International Academy of Young Composers. As both a soloist and ensemble performer, she has appeared at festivals such as "From the Avant-garde to the Present Day", "Sound Paths", and the Diaghilev Festival. Since 2021, she has been a member of the JUST Ensemble, contributing to modern academic music initiatives in St. Petersburg.

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