Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Synopsis
John Dexter’s brilliant production, James Levine’s masterful conducting of the eclectic score, and a sensational cast come together to make this Kurt Weill–Bertolt Brecht masterpiece a riveting evening of music theater. At the center of the action is Jimmy Mahoney (Richard Cassilly), a logger who stumbles onto the city of Mahagonny, where (almost) anything is allowed. Teresa Stratas gives a mesmerizing performance as Jenny, the prostitute who takes up with Jimmy, until he is executed for the greatest of all crimes in Mahagonny—to not have any money. The legendary Astrid Varnay, in her final Met appearances, is Leocadia Begbick, and Cornell MacNeil sings Trinity Moses.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
November 27, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Brian Large
- Screenplay & Story
- Bertolt Brecht
- Original Score
- Kurt Weill
- Original Title
- Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 27m
- Production Studios
- The Metropolitan Opera
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Brian Large
Bertolt Brecht
Kurt Weill
Department Leadership Roster
Brian Large
Director
Kurt Weill
Original Music Composer
Bertolt Brecht
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny about?
John Dexter’s brilliant production, James Levine’s masterful conducting of the eclectic score, and a sensational cast come together to make this Kurt Weill–Bertolt Brecht masterpiece a riveting evening of music theater. At the center of the action is Jimmy Mahoney (Richard Cassilly), a logger who stumbles onto the city of Mahagonny, where (almost) anything is allowed. Teresa Stratas gives a mesmerizing performance as Jenny, the prostitute who takes up with Jimmy, until he is executed for the greatest of all crimes in Mahagonny—to not have any money. The legendary Astrid Varnay, in her final Met appearances, is Leocadia Begbick, and Cornell MacNeil sings Trinity Moses.
Who directed Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny?
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny was directed by Brian Large.
Who stars in Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny?
The principal cast of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny includes Richard Cassilly, Teresa Stratas, Cornell MacNeil, Astrid Varnay.
When was Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny released and how long is it?
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 2h 27m.
Who composed the musical score for Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny was composed by Kurt Weill.