V7

Saturday, 25 February 2012

7.30 pm, Concert in the Marienkirche Dessau

„Living in the limelight –
Je ne regrette rien“ ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
An evening dedicated to Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich and Lotte Lenya

Vocalist: Ute Gfrerer
Musical direction: James Holmes
Marie Galante Septett

After appearing as the goddess Venus in Kurt Weill's „One Touch of Venus“ at the 2010 Festival, our Artist-in-Residence Ute Gfrerer will this year present some of her more earthly colleagues: the great divas of the 20th century. „Living in the limelight“ offers a panorama of the leading actresses and cabaret singers of the last century, who captivated audiences throughout the world, and who also faced and overcame many tribulations in their private lives. Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich or Lotte Lenya – they are all unforgotten, and over the years have lost nothing of their charm and power to fascinate audiences.

Ute Gfrerer, the Austrian singer who has make her home in Boston, gave the working title „Divas“ to this programme, developed jointly with the conductor and pianist James Holmes. It places the lives of these so-often idolized artists under the magnifying glass, revealing how the pressures of fame, especially if success comes too early, can become such a great burden. Seemingly free from such troubles, Garland, Piaf, Dietrich or Lenya are able to thrill audiences around the world: whether drugs or alcohol, unhappy relationships or the loss of their homeland, it almost seems as though the divas exploited these difficulties to supply the energy and willpower they required for their unique careers. The women in Ute Gfrerer's programme were also acquainted in real life: Marlene Dietrich was not only a friend of Lotte Lenya's, she was also a witness at Edith Piaf's wedding and in 1961 joined Judy Garland on the cast of the film „Judgement at Nuremberg“.

Ute Gfrerer will present this very special programme together with James Holmes, a name certainly known to many at the Kurt Weill Festival from his brilliant conducting of „One Touch of Venus“ back in 2010. His collaboration as musical director, pianist and arranger has been integral to creating „Living in the limelight“. Audiences at this evening performance can look forward to hearing such classic songs and chansons as „Over the rainbow“, „Lili Marleen“, „Falling in love again“ or „La vie en rose“. A thrilling and moving evening, which tells the touching life-stories of these earth-bound goddesses.


With kind support by LOTTO Sachsen-Anhalt


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