Ute Lemper: Live at Cadogan Hall

It was a delight to interview Ute Lemper for a recent episode of Harmonious World, and her performance at London’s Cadogan Hall gave me the chance to hear her sing live for the first time in 35 years.

The first time I was aware of Ute’s voice was in the planning stages of ‘The Wall’ Berlin 1990, when I was working for the Producer, Mick Worwood. Mick had conversations with Roger Waters about the artists that would be appearing on stage and the name Ute Lemper came up very early in conversations. Even then, she was becoming renowned for her incredible voice and her performances of the work of Kurt Weill. Now, 35 years later, I heard some of those songs live, with just a piano accompaniment.

Long-term collaborator Vana Gierig was more than an accompanist and clearly the musical understanding between these two consummate artists is intense. There was humour and polish in the entire show, which included personal and innovative arrangements of some much-loved Weill classics. Everything from Pirate Jenny (the title track of Ute’s latest album) to the ubiquitous Mack the Knife was sung with a real sense of musical comprehension and love.

The show was billed as a celebration of the 125 years since Weill’s birth and 75 years since his death. As well as being 35 years since I first heard Ute sing, it was also 40 years since the release of Ute Lemper sings Kurt Weill. This 1985 album single-handedly began a revival of the composer’s works, including The Threepenny Opera, Mahagonny Songspiel and Der Silbersee.

Ute’s love of Weill came over clearly in the concert at Cadogan Hall, where the singer brought past and present together with her explanation of Weill’s history. The composer’s flight to Paris in 1933, and work with Bertolt Brecht was all explained, as the second half of the concert saw more of the songs produced in America after 1935. I was delighted that Ute sang the gorgeous Speak Low and talked movingly of the work of Weill’s wife Lotte Lenya, who continued the legacy that the composer left behind until her death in 1981.

Beautiful songs, performed with intelligence and affection by a stunning singer and performer - a real celebration, whichever milestone you choose.

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