Kurt Weill

A socialist by nature and a music composer by profession, Kurt Julian Weill believed that music should serve a social cause. This is exemplified by the fact that Weill’s works contributed immensely during the Second World War and plenty of his works are based on Judaism. Born as a German, Weill was forced to flee from his own land during the War due to his Jewish origin and socialistic views. However, his adopted home, United States, welcomed him with open arms and provided constructive space for his music. Both Germany and America owe it to Weill for popularizing German and European music in America. His contributions to the German music and American music are in bounty, thanks to his fruitful collaboration with Bertolt Brecht. It was with Brecht that he composed some of the well-known works such as ‘The Three Penny Opera’ that is a Marxist critique of capitalism. Even sixty years after his death, Weill’s music continues to be performed in classical and popular contexts. However, for this, we have to thank Kurt Weill Foundation, which was started by his wife, Lenya, to pass on the great legacy that he left behind.