Throughout his career, whether shaping German modernism in Weimar or composing musical theater masterpieces in the United States, Kurt Weill never wavered from his belief that music was a democratic art and that America best embodied that democracy.
Pianist and popular lecturer Rachel Franklin explores the early works that led to Weill’s extraordinary partnership with Bertolt Brecht and traces his subsequent artistic evolution on Broadway working with lyricists including Ira Gershwin, Langston Hughes, and Maxwell Anderson—collaborations that produced such beloved songs as “Speak Low,” “September Song,” “Lost in the Stars,” and “My Ship.” Featured works include Mahagonny Songspiel, The Threepenny Opera, Knickerbocker Holiday, Lady in the Dark, and Street Scene.
British-born Franklin has been a featured speaker for organizations including the Library of Congress and NPR, exploring intersections among classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts.
General Information
