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Kurt Weill: Street Scene
Street Scene is a Broadway musical or, more precisely, an "American opera" by Kurt Weill (music), Langston Hughes (lyrics), and Elmer Rice (book). It was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name by Rice. For his work on Street Scene, Weill received the first Tony Award for Best Original Score. In Germany, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Weill had already begun to use American jazz and popular song elements in his operas. After fleeing from Germany in 1933, he worked in Paris, then England, and then, beginning in 1935, in New York. Weill made a study of American popular and stage music and worked to further adapt his music to new American styles in his writing for Broadway, film and radio. He strove to find a new way of creating an American opera that would be both commercially and artistically successful.
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Plot Summary
Street Scene is an opera in three acts by Kurt Weill, with a libretto by Langston Hughes. It tells the story of a day in the life of residents of a tenement building in New York City during a heatwave. The opera explores themes of poverty, dreams, and the struggles of everyday life, culminating in a tragic event that underscores the harsh realities faced by the characters.
Critical Reception
The 2007 Metropolitan Opera production of 'Street Scene', released on DVD, garnered positive reviews, with many critics praising its compelling score and the powerful performances of the cast. It is often cited as one of Weill's most significant American works.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its rich, evocative score that blends American folk and jazz influences with European operatic traditions.
The opera's potent social commentary and Hughes's realistic libretto are frequently highlighted as strengths.
Performances are generally lauded for their emotional depth and vocal prowess.
Google audience: While specific Google user reviews for this particular production are not readily available, audiences generally appreciate Kurt Weill's unique American operas for their accessibility and emotional impact.
Fun Fact
Langston Hughes, known primarily as a poet and central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote the libretto for 'Street Scene' in English, making it one of the few American operas to achieve significant international recognition.
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