Best Threepenny Opera Recording?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 11:46am

I'm lookin' to buy a recording of Threepenny Opera in the near future and I'm wondering what's the one people consider the best. And if there's already a thread, please direct me to it.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 11:58am

This has been brought up before.

While most on here (insanely) seem to think that the Donmar recording is the best, you CANNOT go wrong with the off-Broadway recording with Lotte Lenya and Bea Arthur.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:08pm

I don't think any are particularly perfect. I used to love the Donmar, but I think I prefer the 1954 recording, bowdlerized as it may be.

Donmar's lyrics are truer to the original spirt of the show, as well as fitting the music more the way the orginal German lyrics did. That said, it changes the setting and takes some serious liberties (including a vastly different "Mack the Knife" sung by Jenny in the middle of act two).

The Lincoln Center recording (out of print on LP, but there are ripped versions of the files to be found all over) is pretty good as well.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:13pm

There's no perfect recording. In the end you just have to choose between the very tame original cast recording or the more risque, though still very tame, Donmar revival recording. If you're looking for something closer to the recent Broadway revival get the Donmar recording.
Updated On: 5/28/08 at 12:13 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:16pm

I may be crucified for this, but try to get your hands on the 1989 movie "Mack the Knife." It's corny at times, but on the whole I found it pretty effective.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 2:20pm

Thanks for the info.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 8:27pm

Interesting. Well, thanks for the advice.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 8:46pm

Go with the '54 version to start. It's beautiful. Then progress to the Raul Julia / Ellen Greene version