28 Jan-4 Feb 2005. Conducted by Jonathan Webb, directed by Daniele Abbado, with Valentina Valente, William Joiner and Dale Dusing.

As part of the ongoing season at the Teatro dellOpera in Rome, there will be six performances of Aufstieg und Fall der Stad Mahagonny at Teatro Nazionale (28 Jan- 5 Feb). The music is by Kurt Weill, based on Bertold Brechts libretto. The work is one of the best, if not the most successful fruits, of the Weill-Brecht partnership and was produced in Leipzig in 1930. It is a tough attack on capitalism still valid for the public of today. The main idea of the whole opera is simple: desires of transgression in the city of Mahogonny are permitted and possible, provided that there is the money to pay for them; Whoever opposes this rule is destined to die, like the protagonist, Jimmy, whose end also coincides with the destruction of Mahogonny. Brechts text aimed at provoking a reflection on the erroneous traditions of the lower bourgeoisie. The melody of Weills songs is less important than the diverse vocal techniques, which go from the recitative to the Lied, from songs with chorus to unaccompanied solos. Jonathan Webb is the conductor and Daniele Abbado the director. Both of them are familiar with the modern operatic repertoire. For more information tel. 064817003. Paolo di Nicola