Rehearsals are underway for ENO’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagony, with conductor André de Ridder leading this new production of Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht’s political satire.
The production will be directed by Jamie Manton, with a cast including soprano Danielle de Niese and mezzo soprano Rosie Aldridge.
A collaboration between composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny can be interpreted as a critique of both American capitalism and the excesses of the Weimar Republic. Brecht’s satirical lyrics are matched by Weill’s electric score, which fuses classical opera with popular 1920s styles of jazz, cabaret and ragtime. It features the Alabama Song, which has transcended its origins – going on to be recorded by artists from David Bowie to The Doors – testament to the opera’s remarkable accessibility and its ability to resonate with audiences.
De Niese plays sex worker Jenny Smith, with Aldridge, American bass Kenneth Kellogg and tenor Mark Le Brocq singing the roles of the three fugitives Leokadja Begbick, Trinity Moses and Fatty the Bookeeper, respectively.
They are joined by New Zealand-born tenor Simon O’Neill as Jimmy MacIntyre, the cash-strapped lumberjack who falls in love with Jenny Smith. Jimmy’s unfortunate friend Jack O’Brian will be performed by tenor Elgan Llŷr Thomas, and singing the role of Bank-Account Billy is baritone Alex Otterburn. Completing the quartet of lumberjacks who arrive in the hedonistic city of Mahagonny in pursuit of pleasure is British bass David Shipley as Alaska Wolf Joe.
Singing the role of Toby Higgins is South African tenor Zwakele Tshabalala.
The cast will be joined on stage by the Chorus of ENO, and the Orchestra of ENO will perform the iconic score.
The production is designed by Milla Clarke, with lighting design by DM Wood. Lizzi Gee is the choreographer, with Spencer Darlaston-Jones as associate choreographer. The translation is by Jeremy Sams.
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny opens on Monday, February 16 for three performances at the London Coliseum: February 16, 18 and 20 at 19.30. Tickets here.
Top image: The cast of ENO’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny 2026, Rehearsal Images © Tristram Kenton (image supplied)