Lotte Lenya

The Profile

Austrian-American singer and actress, Lotte Lenya became the defining interpreter of Kurt Weill’s theatre songs, rising from Weimar Berlin to international acclaim. She recorded and performed landmark works such as The Threepenny Opera and The Seven Deadly Sins, earned an Academy Award nomination for The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, and appeared as Rosa Klebb in From Russia with Love.

Married to composer Kurt Weill (twice) and stewarded his musical legacy; famed for performances of Mack the Knife, Alabama Song, Pirate Jenny, Surabaya Johnny, September Song, and Speak Low.

A single, fervent review frames Lotte Lenya as the definitive voice of Kurt Weill, born from Weimar Berlin and carried through exile to the U.S. It celebrates her singular timbre, her stewardship of Weill’s legacy, and her transition to stage and screen. Highlights include The Threepenny Opera, The Seven Deadly Sins, and a nod to Rosa Klebb. The pick: The Lotte Lenya Album.