Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, Royal Opera House

Kurt Weill’s political opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny makes a bold statement, even today. This blistering critique of consumerism incited a riot at its 1930 premiere and was banned by the Nazis, not to be performed again for another 30 years. The combination of surprising musical fusions, dark humour and an all-star cast will surely result in one of the most entertaining nights out this season. Don’t miss out on the chance to see a most surprising, inventive and unsettling of works
The Director
This new production -the opera's first Covent Garden outing- is directed by Royal Opera House associate John Fulljames.
An exciting young director known for his intellectual, political interpretations, Fulljames is no stranger to Weill: his production of the German composer's Street Scene at The Young Vic won Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards.
The Plot
Three criminals stumble upon Mahagonny, the city of gold. However, not everything sparkles: debauchery and disillusionment lie around every corner. When Jim and Jenny (lumberjack and prostitute) try to flee, they find themselves unable to escape. Jim is captured, convicted for his lack of money, and is put to death while the city burns.
Kurt Weill
Best known as the composer of The Threepenny Opera, Weill’s music straddles the realms of popular and classical. In Mahogonny, he draws from a melting pot of musical styles, ranging from cabaret and jazz to neoclassicism and romanticism to create a unique compositional voice. With razor-sharp libretto by Bertolt Brecht, this political satire remains one of the most provocative of all operas.
The Cast
The Royal Opera House have certainly pulled out all the stops for their first production of the work, recruiting a world-class cast. Anne Sofie von Otter and Christine Rice are two of the most sought-after mezzo-sopranos, while Williard W. White and Peter Hoare are also in demand all over the world. Let yourself be transported back to 1930 with this bold and innovative work: book now.