THE THREEPENNY OPERA
TEXT BY BERTOLT BRECHT AND MUSIC BY KURT WEILL
IN COLLABORATION WITH ELISABETH HAUPTMANN
BASED ON THE BEGGAR'S OPERA BY JOHN GAY
FIRST PERFORMED ON 31 AUGUST 1928 AT THE THEATER AM SCHIFFBAUERDAMM, BERLIN
TRANSLATION BY ALEXANDRE PATEAU
NEW PRODUCTION FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE AND COMÉDIE-FRANÇAISE
— WITH THE SUPPORT OF MADAME ALINE FORIEL-DESTEZET, GRANDE MÉCÈNE D'EXCEPTION DES 75 ANS DU FESTIVAL D'AIX-EN-PROVENCE
To be a good man – what a nice idea!
But there’s the little problem of subsistence:
Supplies are scarce and human beings base.The Threepenny Opera (1928), translation Eric Bentley
Who hasn’t heard of Mackie’s lament, that penetrating refrain, smooth as a sharpened razor blade? This year, the opening of the Festival takes an exceptional twist: after Mahagonny’s success (2019), the Archevêché will host, for the first time, the troupe of the Comédie-Française under the stage direction of Thomas Ostermeier for Weill and Brecht's other world-famous hit – The Threepenny Opera. A colourful anarchistic revue, a dark collage of haunting songs and danceable rhythms, this parody of opera demystifies a genre deemed bourgeois at a time when mass music is on the rise, and sarcastically describes the Weimar Republic – a period of moral confusion which is reminiscent of our own. Maxime Pascal will lead a dozen virtuoso multi-instrumentalists from his ensemble Le Balcon to perform the original version, for the first time on stage since its creation – a version that is more forceful and in line with Weill’s wishes. A few unpublished pages will be added, and a new translation will be made in close collaboration with the artistic team.
Ticket prices: €165, €130, €90, €59, €31
Youth prices: €49, €39, €27, €17, €9
Performance available with ticket packages and Dinner & Opera offer
Under 30? The 10 July performance is for you! Book your tickets for a one-of-a-kind festive evening.
Be aware this special evening is not on sale on the internet. Please call the Box Office to book your tickets : 08 20 67 00 57 (12cts€/min) from France or +33 (0)4 34 08 02 17 from abroad. Further information
2 hours and 20 minutes without interval
Sung in French with French and English surtitles
With the permission of Kurt Weill Foundation, L’Arche Éditeur