Suite from The Threepenny Opera

As recorded by the Center City Brass Quintet on “From Berlin to Broadway”.

The Threepenny Opera (1928) – Music by Kurt Weill | Libretto by Bertolt Brecht

Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera is a biting satire of capitalism, morality, and society’s hypocrisies. Premiering in Berlin in 1928, the work reimagines John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera with a modern, jazz-inflected score and razor-sharp social commentary.

Set in the underworld of Victorian London, it follows the exploits of the charming yet ruthless criminal Macheath (“Mack the Knife”) and his entanglements with beggars, thieves, and corrupt authorities. Weill’s music blends cabaret, tango, and jazz styles with biting irony, while Brecht’s text strips away theatrical illusion, urging audiences to confront the social issues at its core.

Now regarded as a landmark of 20th-century theater, The Threepenny Opera continues to resonate with its provocative mix of wit, grit, and unforgettable melodies.

1. Overture
2. Ballad of Mack the Knife
3. Cannon Song
4. Ballad of Immoral Earnings
5. Second Threepenny Finale
6. Solomon Song
7. Call from the Grave
8. Epitaph
9. Third Threepenny Finale