Rise and Fall of The City of Mahagonny Tickets

Tickets for Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

English National Opera presents a bold new staging of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at the London Coliseum. Set in a fictional city where pleasure is commodified and the only unforgivable sin is being penniless, this lesser-known opera - a collaboration between composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht - combines elements of jazz, ragtime, and classical music to create a unique and unsettling soundscape that makes for a truly unmissable show. This production has a strictly limited run, so secure your tickets today!

What is the opera Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny about?

Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny follows three fugitives—Leokadia Begbick, Fatty, and Trinity Moses—who establish a city in the desert designed for indulgence and profit. As the city attracts a diverse array of inhabitants seeking pleasure, including the lumberjack Jimmy Mahoney and prostitute Jenny Smith, the narrative unfolds to reveal the consequences of a society driven by greed and devoid of a moral compass. The opera's satirical tone underscores the dangers of a culture that prioritises wealth and pleasure above all else, culminating in a powerful commentary on the human condition.

The opera premiered in 1930 at the Neues Theatre in Leipzig, Germany, emerging from the collaboration between composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht. The opera's fusion of jazz, ragtime, and classical music with biting social commentary challenged traditional operatic norms and offered a critique of capitalist society. Despite initial controversy and a ban by the Nazi regime, the opera has endured, resonating with contemporary audiences through its exploration of themes like consumerism, moral ambiguity, and societal decay. Notably, the "Alabama Song" from the opera gained popularity beyond the classical realm, covered by artists such as The Doors and David Bowie, further cementing the work's cultural impact.

Cast and Creative Team of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

This production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny features mezzo-soprano Rosie Aldridge (The Mask of Orpheus) as Leokadia Begbick, tenor Mark Le Brocq (Peter Grimes) as Fatty, bass Kenneth Kellogg (Blue) as Trinity Moses, soprano Danielle de Niese (Man of La Mancha, Don Pasquale) as Jenny Smith, and tenor Richard Trey Smagur (Fidelio) as Jimmy Mahoney.

The opera has a libretto by playwright Bertolt Brecht (The Threepenny Opera, Mother Courage and her Children) with composition by Kurt Weill (The Threepenny Opera, Der Jasager). Brecht and Weill were long-time collaborators, who worked together for several decades.

The creative team is led by director Jamie Manton (The Day After), with conductor André de Ridder (Dr Atomic), set and costume design by Camilla Clarke (The Handmaid’s Tale), and lighting design by DM Wood (Dead Man Walking).

Don't Miss Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Tickets

This provocative new production offers a scathing critique of capitalist excess and moral decay, so experience the enduring relevance of Weill and Brecht's rarely performed but ever relevant masterpiece and secure your tickets for this strictly limited engagement early. Book tickets for Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at the London Coliseum today!