The Last Century

Double bass player Charlie Haden opened with “Speak Low” from the musical “One Touch of Venus” from 1943 by Kurt Weill, a song that became a top 5 hit in 1944, sung by Broadway star Mary Martin, “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s muse” and actor Larry Hagman’s mother.
Pianist Galina Sandovskaja is next with Irving Schleins Third Suite for piano. She continues with the Fifth Piano sonata from 1941, with the parts Maestoso, Lento and Allegrissimo.
As early as 1938 Schlein gave assistance to Kurt Weill’s Broadway hit “Knickerbocker Holiday”, the musical with texts by Maxwell Anderson from the story of Washington Irving about Peter Stuyvesant and the corrupt management of 17th century New Amsterdam. Anderson wanted to class this allegory the New Deal by Franklin D. Roosevelt with fascism. The “September Song” from this musical would develop into a pop standard that, after Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis jr., Maurice Chevalier and Andy Williams, and also after Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt and of course, Kurt Weill’s wife Lotte Lenya, was sung by Bryan Ferry and Lou Reed, to whom you will listen today.
Violinist Ilja Joff and pianist Pavel Eliasjevich continue with the First Violin sonata from 1945. The parts are Maestoso, Lento and Allegro giocoso.
The Academia String quartet Petersburg plays the Third String quartet by Irving Schlein from 1943.
Elvis Costello sings with the Brodsky Quartet “Lost in the Stars” from Kurt Weill’s musical from 1948.
1. Kurt Weill (Dessau 2.3.1900 – New York City 3.4.1950).
“Speak Low” from: “One Touch of Venus” (1943).
Charlie Haden (6.8.1937), double bass player and jazz ensemble.
Sony Classical – September Songs Kurt Weill – SK 63046.
Irving Schlein (New York 18.5.1905- 11.7.1986).
2. Suite no. 3 for piano: 1) Toccata – Allegro, 2) Meditation – Lento assai, 3) Passepied – Allegro, 4) Chorale Fantasia – Risoluto, 5) Epilogue – Moderato.
3. Piano sonata no. 5 (1942): 1) Maestoso, 2) Lento, 3) Allegrissimo.
Galina Sandovskaja, piano.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-05.
4. Kurt Weill (Dessau 2.3.1900 – New York City 3.4.1950).
“September Song” from: “Knickerbocker Holiday” (1938).
Lou Reed (2.3.1942 – 27.10.2013), vocals, with band.
Sony Classical – September Songs Kurt Weill – SK 63046.
Irving Schlein (New York 18.5.1905- 11.7.1986).
5. First Violin sonata (1945): 1) Maestoso, 2) Lento and 3) Allegro giocoso.
Ilja Joff, violin. Pavel Eliasjevitsj, piano.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-01.
6. String quartet no. 3 (1943): 1) Lento, 2) Allegro.
Academia Strijkkwartet Petersburg: violinists Sandra Schinder and Natalia Kopatsjanoe, viola Dmitri Jaboebovski and cellist Vladimir Joenovitsj.
Pomeron Publishing PPC-2005-09.
7. Kurt Weill (Dessau 2.3.1900 – New York City 3.4.1950).
“Lost in the Stars” from: “Lost in the Stars” (1948).
Elvis Costello (25.8.1954), vocals. Brodsky Quartet.
Sony Classical – September Songs Kurt Weill – SK 63046.
Thanks to Pavel Eliasjevitsj and Lisa and Oren Schlein.