The threepenny opera
L'opéra de quat'sous
Based on The Beggar's Opera by John Gay
Music by Kurt Weill (1900-1950)
Text by Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)
With the collaboration of Elisabeth Hauptmann (1897-1973)
New French translation by Alexandre Pateau
Play with music, in a prelude and eight tableaux
First performed on August 31, 1928 at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, Berlin
New unpublished song Pauv' Madame Peachum,
Text by Yvette Guilbert, adapted by Alexandre Pateau
Recorded at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence in July 2023
New production by the Comédie-Française and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
Comédie-Française
Thomas Ostermeier, adaptation and direction
Le Balcon
Maxime Pascal, musical direction
Comédie-Française
Véronique Vella - Celia Peachum, wife of Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum
Elsa Lepoivre - Jenny, dite la Tripoteuse, a prostitute
Christian Hecq - Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum, leader of a gang of beggars
Nicolas Lormeau - Robert, dit la Découpe, Macheath and Smith's man, first police officer
Benjamin Lavernhe - Brown, chief of London police
Birane Ba - Macheath, leader of a gang of criminals
Claïna Clavaron - Lucy, daughter of Brown
Marie Oppert - Polly Peachum, daughter of Celia and Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum
Sefa Yeboah - Filch, one of Peachum's beggars and Saul, dit Saule-Pleureur, Macheath man
Jordan Rezgui - Matthias, dit Matt-la-Mitraille, Macheath man
and Cédric Eeckhout - Jacob, dit Coco-la-Pince, Macheath man
Chœur Passerelles
Philippe Franceschi - Choirmaster
Le Balcon
Maxime Pascal - Musical director
Valentine Michaud - Soprano, alto, baritone saxophone
Antonin Pommel - Soprano, tenor saxophone
Iris Zerdoud - Clarinet, bass clarinet
Henri Deléger - Trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn
Matthias Champon - Trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn
Mathieu Adam - Trombone, tenor horn
Pierre Michel - Percussion
Giani Caserotto - Guitar, electric guitar, Hawaiian guitar, banjo, balalaika prima
Simon Drappier - Electric bass, double bass, bass balalaika
Alphonse Cemin - Piano, harmonium, celesta, synthesizer
The supporting texts are read by Thomas Ostermeier.