Weill's Street Scene nominated for IOA

The recording of “Street Scene”, from Teatro Real Madrid, is nominated for “Best Opera Recording” at the International Opera Awards.

Kurt Weill wrote “Street Scene” after fleeing Nazi Germany to the United States. When he discovered the vitality of the American musical scene, his focus became to reconcile the Broadway “musical“ with European traditional opera, jazzy and North-American tunes with an almost Puccinian-like lyricism. In his mind, opera had to embrace and reclaim its own theatricality: thus he wrote his Street Scene, meant to be a truly American opera, half-way between his Brechtian “Threepenny’s Opera“ and Bernstein's later “West Side Story“ and drawing from the famous play by Elmer Rice (recipient of the Pulitzer Price when it was published in 1928).

The main plot of this rampant collection of scenes from the streets of the lower East Side of New York revolves around Frank and Anna Maurrant and their daughter Rose. A violent and tough character, Frank fails to see his wife's growing despair due to his lack of affection. When he discovers her with her lover, he shoots them both and goes to jail, leaving behind a heartbroken Rose who, after having experienced relentless harassment by two aggressive suitors, misses her one true chance at love. The opera ends by showing the streets of New York City moving on from these mundane events in total indifference.

Under Tim Murray's vivid and precise baton, this superb production by John Fulljames perfectly renders the vitality and energy released by the streets of New York.

The exceptional quality of this DVD earned it a nomination for "Best Opera Recording" at the International Opera Awards 2020.

English title Street Scene
Genre Opera
Recording date 2018
Duration 160 min.
Video format Color, 16:9, NTSC (DVD) / Full HD (Blu-ray)
Audio format PCM 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 (DVD) / DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 (Blu-ray)
TV Director Jérémie Cuvillier
Composer Kurt Weill
Orchestra / Band Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Real - Madrid
Conductor Tim Murray
Stage Director John Fulljames
Choreography by Arthur Pita
Soloist Paulo Szot
Soloist Patricia Racette
Soloist Mary Bevan
Soloist Joel Prieto
Distribution DVD Naxos Distribution