Acclaimed Singer & Actress Ute Lemper Celebrates Revolutionary Composer Kurt Weill's 125th Birthday With New Album & Single
Pirate Jenny Out Now“Fierce, multilingual chanteuse Ute Lemper” - The New York Times
“She may channel the likes of Dietrich and Piaf, with a strong sense of Jean Ross, but Lemper is still very much her own woman” - The Guardian
"A chanteuse of unique range and ability across all media" - The Washington Post
“It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”
- Ute Lemper on Pirate Jenny
“It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”
- Ute Lemper on Pirate Jenny
April 25, 2025 - Nearly four decades after her breakthrough Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill, renowned singer and actress Ute Lemper returns to her artistic roots with Pirate Jenny, a bold electronic reimagining of classics from revolutionary composer Kurt Weill's songbook, released today through The Audiophile Society.
Leading the release is Lemper’s fierce spin on “Pirate Jenny,” the murderous revenge anthem of a maid-turned-pirate commander also famously sung by Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall. The album also features fresh takes on beloved tracks like "Surabaya Johnny," “The Salomon Song,” and "My Ship," and singles “Mack the Knife” and “Speak Low,” stripping away traditional arrangements and updating with cutting-edge production and a fresh, modern soundscape.
Sultry vocals and atmospheric beats are brought to life with The Audiophile Society’s immersive Mega-Dimensional Sound™, transporting longtime fans and new listeners alike to a smoky Berlin jazz club outside of time, reminiscent of Lemper’s award-winning roles as Cabaret's Sally Bowles in Paris and Chicago's Velma Kelly in New York and London.
“This project is about creating a new audience for Kurt Weill,” says Lemper. “By blending his timeless melodies with a groove. I’m opening the door for younger listeners who might not know his work. It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”
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Photo Credit: Jim Rackete |
Lemper will perform her acclaimed one-woman show “Rendezvous With Marlene” and some of Weill’s eternal classics live at Neue Galerie and 54 Below in New York Citythis May – international tour dates here.
“Rendezvous With Marlene” | Neue Galerie
Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm ET
“Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill” | 54 Below
Tuesday, May 27 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 29 at 7pm ET
A Billboard Crossover Artist of the Year, Lemper has reimagined icons like Marlene Dietrich (Rendezvous with Marlene is based on a three-hour phone call between Dietrich and Lemper), Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, alongside more modern collaborations with artists like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, and Roger Waters (The Wall: Live in Berlin, 1990).
Pirate Jenny isn’t just a revival—it’s a reinvention. Whether you’re a fan of cabaret, a lover of jazz, or someone who lives for groove, this album promises a fresh perspective on music that has shaped generations.
Track List
Mack the Knife
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein
Speak Low
Lyrics: Ogden Nash / Music: Kurt Weill
One Touch of Venus
Surabaya Johnny
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
Happy End
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein
My Ship
Lyrics: Ira Gershwin / Music: Kurt Weill
Lady in the Dark
Pirate Jenny
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein
Le Grand Lustucru
Lyrics: Jacques Deval / Music: Kurt Weill
Marie Galante
Ballade vom Ertrunkenen Mädchen
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Flight of Lindbergh
The Salomon Song
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
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Photo Credit: Jim Rackete |
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