Great Performances: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny DVD

Comments about PBS Great Performances: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny DVD:

I purchased Rise and Fall several weeks ago and watched it and enjoyed it greatly. As an aside I played the final chorus audio as a "cheerfully macabre halloween chorus" for our Choir Director. He'd never heard it and thouht it "cool". I wish I could have completely read the scrolling social commentary that formed part of the background.

Audra has a fantastic voice, facial expressions, and body; I was afraid for a moment that Jimmy had shot her in one scene, but she bounced back.

I heard Rise and Fall years ago when it was released (in German which i don't understand) and played on an FM station i worked at in NY. I loved the music. I was very happy to see it finally performed in English. The major thing i didn't understand was the changing of "Jimmy Mahoney" (rhymes with Mahagonny) to "Jimmy MacIntyre".

It is really unforgettable, and some of the melodies and lyrics continue to reverberate. The conclusion of the Second Act after the Hurricane was most symbolic as they all reluctantly raise their arms, with "Seig heil' faintly in the background, after Jimmy sings that the most dangerous thing in the world is Man.

(An early performance was said to have been performed in Germany in the 30s with Storm Troopers lining the walls to prevent a riot. I doubt that was part of the original:))

I missed "Tbis is murder" (Das ist Mord) which some woman cries out during the "brutal" prize fight.

"Eating" was satisfactorily disgusting:)

The flashlight scene was awesome, chilling, and surrealistic.

Regards