New Releases category interest

To celebrate revolutionary composer Kurt Weill’s 125th birthday on March 2, acclaimed singer andamp; actress Ute Lemper released “Mack the Knife,” the new single andamp; video from her album Pirate Jenny, out April 25 via The Audiophile Society. 

Composed by Kurt Weill with the lyrics of Bertolt Brecht in 1928, the song originally appeared in The Threepenny Opera, brimming with satirical critiques of societal injustices and corruption that still resonate today. Lemper embodies the charming yet ruthless criminal Macheath, who evades justice despite his violent actions. In the video, Lemper embodies various personas - the young, the old, the jester, the murderer - running loose in New York City.

ADVERTISEMENT

CREATE OR CLAIM YOUR VENUE PROFILE TODAY!

Do you run a live music venue that is not listed in our Huge Database? Become a Member!

Click Here to Get Started

ArtistAndFan Venues

“Mack the Knife”: Watch / Listen 

Since 1985, from experimental theaters in West Berlin to Carnegie Hall, Lemper has been singing the songs of Jewish composers from the Weimar era, who were banned and persecuted by Nazis. She notes that Brecht and Weill's works remain as relevant today: "Exotic characters fight for survival, rising from the ashes of racism, disadvantage, and neglect—stories that feel strikingly contemporary.”

Lemper will release more singles from the album, including title track “Pirate Jenny” (a revolt against the ruling party of the rich) from The Threepenny Opera and “Speak Low” from One Touch of Venus - full tracklist below. Sultry vocals and atmospheric beats are brought to life with The Audiophile Society’s immersive Mega-Dimensional Sound™, transporting longtime fans and new listeners alike to a smoky Berlin jazz club outside of time, reminiscent of Lemper’s award-winning roles as Cabaret's Sally Bowles in Paris and Chicago's Velma Kelly in New York and London.

“This project is about creating a new audience for Kurt Weill,” says Lemper. “By blending his timeless melodies with a groove. I’m opening the door for younger listeners who might not know his work. It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”

A Billboard Crossover Artist of the Year, Lemper has reimagined icons like Marlene Dietrich (Rendezvous with Marlene is based on a three-hour phone call between Dietrich and Lemper), Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, alongside more modern collaborations with artists like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, and Roger Waters (The Wall: Live in Berlin, 1990). 

Lemper will perform some of Weill’s eternal classics live at 54 Below on Tuesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 29 - tickets here.