An introduction to Rise and Fall of The City of Mahagonny

This work was initially commissioned for the Baden-Baden music festival and was a one-act chamber opera but Weill together with Brecht reworked it into a full opera.

Brecht’s satirical lyrics are matched with Weill’s inventive score that fuses classical opera with jazz, cabaret and ragtime – styles of music that were popular in 1920s.

Brecht lyrics were written mostly in German but some of the songs including “Alabama Song” and the “Benares Song” were written to be performed in English.

In a letter to conductor Maurice Abravanel dated 2 February 1930, Weill said: “Mahagonny is an opera. An opera for singers. To cast it with actors is absolutely impossible.” The premiere took place in Leipzig, Germany in 1930.

Weill wrote operas, concert works, symphonies and became a prominent figure on Broadway with works such as Street Scene and Lost in the Stars.

His best-known work was also with Brecht – The Threepenny Opera which includes the ballad “Mack the Knife” .

Brecht started his career as a playwright. He wrote plays, screenplays, poetry, fiction and theoretical works.

He had long-standing creative partnerships with many artists including Weill.

He was called to testify in front of Congress as part of the House Un-American Activities Committee for alleged Communist Party affiliations. After he testified he left the USA.

On his return to Europe Brecht mainly directed plays rather than writing them.

Both Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht were born in Germany but fled to the United States of America in 1933 when the Nazis came to power in Germany.

This opera was banned by the Third Reich together with all other works by both artists.

Mahagonny’s most famous song is ‘The Alabama Song‘ which has been recorded by artists including The Doors, Nina Simone, Marianne Faithfull and David Bowie.

The songs has also featured in television shows and the film The World’s End.

ENO’s 2026 production is directed by Jamie Manton, a long-time collaborator of ENO. His dazzling 2022 production of Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production.

The cast will be led by Danielle De Niese, who was also last at ENO in 2022 with Jake Heggie’s It’s a Wonderful Life.

ENO Music Director Designate André de Ridder will make his debut conducting the Orchestra of ENO from the podium.