Orchestra Miami Artistic Director and Conductor Elaine Rinaldi pointing the baton (Photo courtesy of Orchestra Miami)
Orchestra Miami begins its 2025-26 season with two concerts in honor of the 175th anniversary of the birth and the 75th anniversary of the death of German born American composer Kurt Weill titled “From Berlin To Broadway With Kurt Weill” on Saturday, Nov. 22 at The Sanctuary For The Arts in Coral Gables and on Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Miami Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach.
Orchestra Miami singer Lovell Rose. (Photo courtesy of Orchestra Miami)
“The tribute to Kurt Weill is a memorable way to open our season as Weill bridged both the world of Broadway music and opera. My relationship with performing Kurt Weill’s music goes back to 2000 when I conducted the revival of ‘Street Scene’ in New York,” said Orchestra Miami Artistic Director and Conductor Elaine Rinaldi, who will be celebrating her 20th anniversary as Artistic Director of Orchestra Miami in January, 2026.
Orchestra Miami singer Ben Gulley (Photo courtesy of Orchestra Miami)
“From Berlin To Broadway With Kurt Weill” is one of many Orchestra Miami concerts scheduled for the current season. Other concerts in the lineup include “A New Year’s Celebration” on Dec. 31 featuring Afro-Cuban funk band “Palo” in Miami Beach, three “Beethoven By The Beach” concerts from March 21-29, five chamber music concerts from Jan. 17 through May 16 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Miami and three “Family Fun” Sunday afternoon concerts at 3 p.m. from Jan. 11 through March 13 at Pinecrest Gardens in Pinecrest.
Orchestra Miami features singer Elise Quagliata. (Photo by Sonya Revell)
The “From Berlin To Broadway With Kurt Weill” concerts will be performed in two acts, featuring singers Ben Gulley (tenor), Rose Kearin (soprano), Lovell Rose (baritone) and Elise Qualiga (mezzo-soprano) and actor Christopher Dresson, who will be narrator,chronicling the life of Weill.
“We will be performing 38 songs that Weill composed for the musical theater and the four singers each have incredible range making the audience feel the emotions of each of the songs. Christopher (Dresson), who will act as ‘the guide’ will showcase Kurt Weill’s life, when he lived in Germany and later in the United States,” said Rinaldi.
Orchesta Miami Artistic Director and Conductor Elaine Rinaldi in rehearsal (Photo courtesy of Orchestra Miami)
Songs composed by Weill to be performed in the concerts will include “Lonely House” from “Street Scene,” “Mack The Knife” from “Threepenny Opera,” "My Ship” from “Lady In The Dark.” “September Song” from “Knickerbocker Holiday” and "Surabaya Johnny” from “Happy End” among other songs.
Weill was a German born American composer who achieved success in composing both classical music and popular songs for the musical theater. His most popular compositions while residing in Germany include his first symphony “Sinfonie in einem Satz” (1923). His other noteworthy compositions for classical music include “Hymnus for Orchestra," “Passacaglia” and “Quodlibet.
By 1927, Weill’s compositions were oriented to vocal performance and musical theater. His most popular compositions were “The Threepenny Opera” (1928) as well as “Happy End”(1929).
Orchestra Miami singer Rose Kearin. (Photo courtesy of Orchestra Miami)
Weill fled Nazi Germany in March, 1933. A prominent and popular Jewish composer, Weill was officially denounced by Germany for being Jewish. He moved to New York in 1935 writing songs for the musical theater. His most popular songs while living in the United States include the opera “Street Scene”(1946) and the popular songs “Alabama Song,” Lost In the Stars,” “My Ship” and “September Song.” His most well-known song is “Mack The Knife," a song made famous by Frank Sinatra.
Rinaldi is a native of Miami and learned to play piano by age six guided by her mother who is a music teacher. Rinaldi founded Orchestra Miami in 2006, three years after the bankruptcy of the now defunct Florida Philharmonic Orchestra.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Orchestra Miami performs “From Berlin To Broadway With Kurt Weill” in two concerts.
WHEN:7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23
WHERE: The Sanctuary of the Arts, 410 Andalusia Ave. in Coral Gables (Saturday) and Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. (Sunday)
TICKETS: $30-40 (Saturday) and $25-$210 (Sunday).
INFORMATION: Call 305-274-2103 or orchestramiami.org for more information.
