Something special this week. Heading over to Basel Switzerland for a concert featuring the Basel Symphonieorchester under the direction of Dennis Russell Davies and featuring the legendary Marianne Faithfull in a stunning performance of Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins. All recorded at Stadt-Casino de Båle on October 26, 2011 by DSR.
Opening the concert with Stravinsky’s Firebird, and continuing with Espansioni, Symphony Number 3 by Rudolf Kelterborn. Ending with Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins which, in addition to Marianne Faithfull, also feature Martin Acheiner, Bariton, Hudson Shad Vocal ensemble.
Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins, it would seem, is a perfect match of voice timbre and sound wished for by the composer. The husky and weary voiced Marianne Faithfull does these songs as they were intended to be done, her voice a beautiful match in tone and color. It is the heavy and somber tone of the music that blends so perfectly with her voice here. Weill’s music tends toward a formality and somberness that shadows the concerns of the songs. Here Brecht’s lyrics tell the moribund story of a girl placed on a tour by her family to earn money for their luxury; her voice reflects the weariness that becomes the ideal vehicle for her travails and lacerations. According to the tabloids, if they are to be believed, Marianne has spent her life researching this work. She displays that rare intelligence that allows all “misfortunes” to be converted to her benefit. There is a detachment that allows one to be intimately involved with, but not consumed by this type of work. This is her best work in quite some time. She deserves all the accolades that come her way as a serious singer who can pull off the piece. A wonderful disc from one whose live presence we must count as miraculous considering what she has lived through.
Enjoy the concert.
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