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Chandos

In Search of Youkali - Songs of Kurt Weill

$21.99

Details

Composer
Kurt Weill
Artist
Katie Bray, William Vann, Murray Grainger, Marianne Schofield
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Jan 09, 2026
Catalog #
CHAN 20359
UPC
0095115235928

About

Winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, the British mezzo-soprano Katie Bray has become known for her magnetic stage presence and gleaming, expressive tone. Katie writes: 'Youkali, It is the land of our desires, It is happiness, it is pleasure... But it is a dream, a folly, There is no Youkali! This song was my first encounter with Kurt Weill, more than twenty years ago, and that yearning, mesmerising tango has been a constant companion ever since. The sentiment behind 'Youkali' touched me deeply, and seemed to echo Weill's own search for a place of personal and artistic freedom, a German Jew forced into exile in 1933 owing to the rise of the Nazi regime. He moved around the world, and with each new country came a reinvention of himself and some more miraculous musical shape-shifting. 'Youkali' is Weill's 'Somewhere over the rainbow', an idea that resonates strongly with me, and seems painfully relevant to us all as I write this, in 2025, yet again living in a world at war. My performances of Weill's songs have always centred around 'Youkali' and Weill's search for a place to belong and to be free. I have wanted to make this album for many years, and am thrilled finally to have had the chance to do so with such a special team of collaborators and friends. It is my tribute to Kurt Weill, the chameleon, in all his glory, and a tribute to us all in our search for kindness, love, and peace.'

Tracklist 19 tracks

  1. 1 A Glimpse of Youkali 00:48
    Track
    1
    Title
    A Glimpse of Youkali
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Katie Bray
    Performer
    Katie Bray
  2. 2 Die Dreigroschenoper, Act I: Barbara-Song (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:06
    Track
    2
    Title
    Die Dreigroschenoper, Act I: Barbara-Song (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  3. 3 Berlin im Licht (version for voice and piano) 01:46
    Track
    3
    Title
    Berlin im Licht (version for voice and piano)
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  4. 4 Die Dreigroschenoper: Overture (arr. M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for double bass, piano and accordion) 01:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    Die Dreigroschenoper: Overture (arr. M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  5. 5 Happy End, Act III: Surabaya Johnny (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    Happy End, Act III: Surabaya Johnny (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:04
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  6. 6 A Vision of Youkali 02:55
    Track
    6
    Title
    A Vision of Youkali
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Murray Grainger
    Performer
    Murray Grainger
  7. 7 Complainte de la Seine 04:04
    Track
    7
    Title
    Complainte de la Seine
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  8. 8 Je ne t'aime pas 04:41
    Track
    8
    Title
    Je ne t'aime pas
    Duration
    04:41
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  9. 9 Marie Galante: J'attends un navire (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:16
    Track
    9
    Title
    Marie Galante: J'attends un navire (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:16
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  10. 10 A Dream of Youkali 01:42
    Track
    10
    Title
    A Dream of Youkali
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Marianne Schofield
    Performer
    Marianne Schofield
  11. 11 Buddy on the Nightshift (arr. K. Bray, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass and piano) 02:04
    Track
    11
    Title
    Buddy on the Nightshift (arr. K. Bray, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass and piano)
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann
  12. 12 Nanna's Lied 03:49
    Track
    12
    Title
    Nanna's Lied
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  13. 13 Knickerbocker Holiday: September Song (arr. L.C. Singer for piano) 02:57
    Track
    13
    Title
    Knickerbocker Holiday: September Song (arr. L.C. Singer for piano)
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    William Vann
  14. 14 Huckleberry Finn: Apple Jack (arr. K. Bray and M. Grainger for voice and accordion) 01:56
    Track
    14
    Title
    Huckleberry Finn: Apple Jack (arr. K. Bray and M. Grainger for voice and accordion)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Murray Grainger
  15. 15 A Premonition of Youkali 01:20
    Track
    15
    Title
    A Premonition of Youkali
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Katie Bray
    Performer
    Katie Bray
  16. 16 One Touch of Venus: Speak Low (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano) 03:12
    Track
    16
    Title
    One Touch of Venus: Speak Low (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano)
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  17. 17 Lady in the Dark: My Ship (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano) 03:24
    Track
    17
    Title
    Lady in the Dark: My Ship (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano)
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  18. 18 Huckleberry Finn: This Time Next Year (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano) 02:50
    Track
    18
    Title
    Huckleberry Finn: This Time Next Year (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  19. 19 Youkali (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:36
    Track
    19
    Title
    Youkali (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:36
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  • 5 stars: 0 (0%)
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  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 1 (100%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
B
Bevan Davies

It has always been a contentious issue as to whether or not opera singers should, or could, perform Weill songs. In this case, Ms. Bray has a beautiful voice but I much prefer the interpretations of Teresa Stratas. Of course, the non pareil is Ute Lemper, with her jackhammer voice and perfect diction. Opera singers tend to swallow the words, which is ok for opera. This is why many works of Weill were called 'song spiel.'

When the roles for many works by Brecht/Weill were cast, they called for actors who could sing. Lotte Lenya, for instance, had a tinny voice, but what a presence on stage. I had hoped that this recording might have been more acting than singing, but c'est la vie.