Florelle as Marie and Alcover as Staub, from the original production,
1934.
Marie is kidnapped and taken to Panama by a lecherous sea captain, who abandons her when she will not give in to his desires. She becomes a prostitute in order to earn money to return to France; meanwhile, she is unwittingly involved in an espionage plot. She spends most of her money to care for a dying black man whom no one else will tend to. When she does finally save enough money for a steamer fare, she is murdered the night before the boat sails. Song list
Performance Information
Cast:
Singing roles -- Marie (soprano), Mamouille (high baritone), Soledad (mezzo-soprano), Mercédès (mezzo-soprano), Staub (baritone), one Negro tenor, chorus.
Speaking roles -- Josiah, Letuvier, Pastolle, Vigouroux, Crawbett, Tsamatsui, Poldine, Tapia, Gloria, Massoubre, Plauen.
Orchestra: alto sax (fl, cl); alto sax (cl); ten. sax (sop. sax); 2 tpt, 1 tbn; piano, accordion, guitar (banjo), perc; 2 vn, viola, bass.
Duration: full evening, 35 minutes music
Principal production
December 22, 1934, Paris, Théâtre de Paris, H. Henriot, dir., Edmond Mahieux, cond.
Koch Schwann 3-6592-2 | ![]() |
Joy Bogen, soprano
Orchestra of St. Luke's Victor Symonette, cond. |
Introduction
Le Roi D'Aquitaine Marche de l'armée Panaméenne Le train du ciel Tango Le Grand Lustucru Intermezzo Les filles de Bordeaux Scène au dancing J'attends un navire |
Assai 207192 | ![]() |
Loes Luca, soprano,
Ensemble Dreigroschen, Giorgio Bernasconi, cond. |
Introduction
Marche de l'armée Panaméenne Les filles de Bordeaux Scène au dancing Intermezzo Le Grand Lustucru Le Roi D'Aquitaine Presto J'attends un navire Tango Le train du ciel |
L'Empreinte Digitale 13178 | ![]() |
Cabaret songs
Françoise Tillard, Piano Hanna Shaer, Mezzo soprano |
Le grand lustucru
J'attends un navire |
Decca 436417-2 | ![]() |
Ute Lemper singt Kurt Weill Vol. 2
London Voices, Jeff Cohen, RIAS-Sinfonietta John Mauceri |
Les filles de Bordeaux
Le train du ciel Le grand Lustucru Le Roi D'Aquitaine J'attends un navire |
NONESUCH 9 79131-2 | ![]() |
Stratas Sings Weill
Chamber Symphony Gerard Schwarz |
J'attends un navire
Le Roi d'Aquitaine LeTrain du Ciel |
Unicorn 9055 | ![]() ![]() |
Jill Gomez
John Constable, piano |
Les filles de Bordeaux
Le grand Lustucru Le Roi d'Aquitaine J'attends un navire |
BVHAAST 9808 | ![]() |
Loes Luca
Willem Breuker Collectif |
Introduction
Le Roi d'Aquitaine Marche de l'armée panaméenne Train du ciel Le Grand Lustucru Intermezzo Les filles de Bordeaux Scène au dancing J'attends un navire |
EPM 854852 | ![]() |
Lys Gauty Florelle |
Lys Gauty Complainte de la Seine Je ne t'aime pas J'attends un navire. Florelle Le Grand Lustucru J'attends un navire Le Roi d'aquitaine Les Filles de Bordeaux |
List of Movements
Orchestra: fl; alto sax (fl, cl); alto sax (cl); ten sax
(sop. sax); 2 tpt, 1 tbn; piano, accordion, guitar (banjo), perc; 2 vn,
viola, bass.
Duration: 11 minutes
First performance: June 14, 1990, London, Almeida Festival,
Matrix Ensemble, Robert Ziegler, cond.
Recordings
Largo CD
5114
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![]() |
Ensemble Modern, HK Gruber, cond.
|
Concert suite for voice(s) and instrumental ensemble,
arranged by Kim Kowalke and Lys Symonette.
Song list
Duration: 35 minutes
First performance: September 17, 1987, New York, Kurt Weill
Festival, Faith Esham, vocalist, David Atherton, cond.
See also Youkali (Tango)