By Marilyn Lester***Composer Kurt Julian Weill (March 2, 1900 – April 3, 1950) was German-born, finding success in the Weimar-era music scene, mostly pairing his work with Bertolt Brecht as lyricist. Their most enduring collaboration remains The Threepenny Opera (1928). Night one of the Mabel Mercer Foundation‘s 34th Annual Cabaret Convention, Speak Low: The Songs of Kurt Weill, honored that work plus the catalog of songs that came after.
In 1933, seeing the handwriting on the wall, the Jewish Weill fled to Paris and then to the US in 1936, becoming a United States citizen in 1943. His work since then included collaborations with Maxwell Anderson, Langston Hughes and Ira Gershwin,among others.
Speak Low: The Songs of Kurt Weill was led by Convention hosting regulars, Andrea Marcovicci and Jeff Harnar. This congenial and charming pair guided the performing artists through the oft-overlooked Weill catalog, including songs not well-known to most. The vocalists were as diverse as the songs they presented.
In the category of One of a Kind there can only be Sidney Meyer, who was presented with this year’s Mabel Mercer Award. In his own wondrous inimitable style, he sang “That’s Him.” With a touching introduction, Myer revealed he’d first heard Mary Martin sing the song from One Touch of Venus, and more than that, how grateful to be able to sing it unaltered with acceptance of gender freedom. Also a standout was Clint Holmes who offered a jazzy and thrilling “I’m A Stranger Here Myself” from One Touch of Venus.
There were the divas who sang auf Deutsch, in Weill’s first language. The incomparable Ute Lemper, no stranger here herself, who as an actress, gave a thrilling 
performance of “The Ballad of Pirate Jenny,” including textual references to the transformation of Polly Meacham into Jenny in the Threepenny Opera. Lemper later sang an equally enhanced, sultry “Speak Low” from One Touch of Venus. Karen Kohler offered in German, “Bilbao Song” from the Happy End.
For those who think Weill is all sturm und drang, there was levity in the program. Tovah Feldshuh’s alter ego, an irreverant French songstress, sang “Mr. Right” in what amounted to a hilarious standup routine. Soprano sax meister Danny Bacher and Minda Larsen presented a battle of styles in “Mack The Knife,” finally settling on one they were happy with together. Jeff Harnar whipped off “Tschaikowsky (and Other Russians),” the dizzying patter song from Lady in the Dark, at Danny Kaye speed (this song made him a star)—of an astounding 39 seconds.
The especially story songs of the Weill catalog were beautifully handled during the evening. Outstanding was Karen Aker’s gut-wrenching, deeply emotive rendition of “Surabaya Johnny” from the Happy End. If it were possible, Akers should receive at least a Tony for her dramatic interpretation. Also memorable in this particular craft was opener, Ari Axelrod’s “Lost In The Stars,” Marieann Meringolo’s “Love Song,” Natalie Douglas’ “Lonely House” and Marta Sanders’ “September Song.”
Beautiful voices reigned supreme in Dawn Derow’s “My Ship,” Celia Berk’s “What Good Would The Moon Be?” and Maude Maggart’s “The River Is So Blue.” Also notable in the evening was Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci’s “One Life To Live” and “Live, Love Laughter,” Marcovicci’s sensitive and contemplative “It Never Was You,” Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael’s “Johnny’s Song,” “Sing Me Not A Ballad” and “That’s How Much I Love You,” and Therese Lee’s “This Is New.” Already an award winner within the Mercer Foundation, young Madalynn Mathews sang a sultry and mature “Stay Well” and was surprised with the Julie Wilson Award.
Harmonists were represented in Those Girls (Wendy Russell, Karen Mack, Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser) “Nowhere To Go But Up” and MOIPEI, the triplets, who closed out the show with “Here I’ll Stay.” Throughout the show, music director Christopher Denny supported many of the artists along with bassist Steve Doyle and drummer Rex Benincasa. Other participating pianists included Larry Yurman, Ian Herman, James Bassi, Will Kjeer, Doyle Newmyer, Vanna Gierig, Steven Ray Watkins, Daryl Kojak, Gerald Sternbach and Alex Rybeck.
Photos by Maryann Lopinto
