Seven Deadly Sins & Mahagonny Songspiel
Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht

October 25-26 | Mosman Art Gallery

Directed by Spark Sanders-Robinson
Conducted by Philip Eames

Featuring pianist Nathaniel Kong

This captivating double bill features two iconic works by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, in a semi-staged performance blending sharp social commentary with powerful music and drama.

Seven Deadly Sins (1933) is a unique ballet-scenic opera that follows the journey of one woman with two distinct personas, Anna I and Anna II, as she navigates the temptations of seven American cities, each representing one of the deadly sins. Through her contrasting personalities—Anna I's practical and morally driven nature versus Anna II's hedonistic tendencies—the piece explores her moral conflicts and the consequences of her actions. Weill's score, paired with Brecht's libretto, creates a striking fusion of opera, musical theatre, and cabaret, making for a thought-provoking and visually dynamic experience.

Cast:
Anna I: Laura Scandizzo
Anna II: Mia Rashid
Father: Ben Oxley
Brother: Matt Gaskin
Mother: Timothy Nunn
Brother: Matthew Avery

Mahagonny Songspiel (1927), a precursor to the more expansive opera The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, offers a satirical glimpse into the rise and inevitable fall of the fictional city of Mahagonny. In this work, the city becomes a symbol of moral decay, where pleasure and excess rule unchecked. Through a series of musical scenes, Weill and Brecht expose the contradictions and excesses of a capitalist society, using biting humour and vivid imagery to critique the pursuit of unbridled indulgence.

Cast:
Charlie: Ben Oxley
Billy: Matt Gaskin
Jimmy: Timothy Nunn
Bobby: Matthew Avery
Jessie: Katie Miller-Crispe
Bessie: Laura Scandizzo