Composers and their stage works 


Bertolt Brecht

(1898 - 1956)

German dramatist. Eugen Bethold Friedrich Brecht was born on February 10, 1898 in Augsburg, Germany. Died East Berlin August 14, 1956.

Stage Works

Plays are in prose unless otherwise stated.

  1. Baal. Play, 21 scenes. Written 1918. Published 1922. Produced Leipzig Altes Theater, Dec. 8, 1923. Revised version: Produced Berlin, Deutsches Theater, Feb. 14, 1926.
  2. Die Hochzeit (The Wedding). Farce, 1 act. Written 1919. Published under the title of the later version, Die Kleinbiirgerhochzeit (The Petit Bourgeois Wedding), 1953. Produced Frankfurt am Main, Schauspielhaus, Dec. 11, 1926.
  3. Der Bettler, oder Der tote Hund (The Beggar, or The Dead Dog). Play, 1 act. Written 1919. Published 1953.
  4. Er treibt einen Teufel aus (He Exorcises a Devil). Comedy, 1 act. Written 1919. Published 1953.
  5. Lux in Tenebris (Light in Darkness). Farce, 1 act. Written 1919. Published 1953.
  6. Trommeln in der Nacht (Drums in the Night). Comedy, 5 acts. Written 1918/20. Published 1922. Produced Munich, Kammerspiele, Sept. 23, 1922.
  7. Im Dickicht der Städte (In the Jungle of the Cities; In the Swamp). Play, 11 scenes. Written 1921/23. Published 1927. Produced Munich, Residenztheater, May 9, 1923.
  8. (With Lion Feuchtwanger). Leben Eduards des Zweiten Von England (Edward IV. History, 21 scenes; verse. Written 1923/24. Published 1924. Produced Munich, Kammerspiele, Mar. 18, 1924. Based on Christopher Marlowe's Edward II (1594).
  9. Mann ist Mann (A Man's a Man). Comedy, 11 scenes. Written 1924/25. Published 1927. Produced Darmstadt, Landestheater, Sept. 25, 1926.
  10. Das Elefantenkalb (The Elephant Calf). Farce, 1 act. Written 1924/ 25. Published 1927.
  11. (With Feuchtwanger). Kalkutta, 4 Mai (Warren Hastings). Colonial history, 4 acts. Written 1925. Published 1927. Based on Feuchtwanger's Warren Hastings, Gouverneur von Indien (wr. 1915).
  12. Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera). Ballad opera, prelude and 3 acts. Written 1928. Published 1929. Produced Berlin, Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, Aug, 31. 1928. Music: Kurt Weill. Based on John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1728).
  13. (With Elisabeth Hauptmann). Happy End. Musical play, prelude and 3 acts. Written 1928/29. Produced Berlin, Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, Aug. 31, 1929. Music: Weill.
  14. Der Flug der Lindbergh (Lindbergh's Flight). Didactic radio play for children. Written 1928/29. Published 1929. Produced Baden-Baden, July, 1929. Music: Weill and Paul Hindemith.
  15. Aufstieg and Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny). Epic opera, 20 scenes. Written 1928/29. Published 1929. Produced Leipzig, Mar. 9, 1930. Music: Weill.
  16. Das Badener Lehrstiick vom Einverstandnis (The Didactic Play of Baden: On Consent). Didactic play; 11 short sections, 1 interpolated scene, and short section of film. Written 1928/29. Published 1930. Produced Baden-Baden, July 28, 1929. Music: Hindernith.
  17. Der Jasager (He Who Says Yes). School opera. Written 1929/30. Published 1931. Produced Berlin, June 23, 1930. Music: Weill. Based on the Japanese No play Taniko.
  18. Die heilige Johanna der Schlachthofe (Saint Joan of the Stockyards). Play, 11 scenes. Written 1929/30. Published 1931. Produced Berlin Radio, Apr. 11, 1932; Hamburg, Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Apr. 30, 1959.
  19. Der Neinsager (He Who Says No). School opera. Written 1930. Published 1931. Music: Weill. Revision of Der Jasager.
  20. Die Massnahme (The Measures Taken). Didactic play, 8 sections. Written 1930. Published 1931. Produced Berlin, Grosses Schauspielhaus, Dec. 10, 1930. Music: Harms Eisler.
  21. Die Ausnahme and die Regel (The Exception and the Rule). School play; prologue and epilogue, 9 sections. Written 1930. Published 1937. Produced Paris, TM6tre des Noctambules, 1947. Music: Paul Dessau.
  22. Die Mutter: Leben der Revolutionkrin Pelegea Wlassowa aus Twer (The Mother: Life of the Revolutionary Pelagea Vlassova from Tver). Didactic play, 15 scenes. Written 1930/32. Published 1932. Produced Berlin, Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, Jan. 15, 1932. Music: Eisler. Based on Maxim Gorky's novel Mat (1907).
  23. Die sieben Todsiinden der KleinWrger (The Seven Deadly Sins; also known as Anna-Anna). Ballet cantata, 7 sections. Written ca. 1933. Published 1959. Produced Paris, ThLsatre des Champs-Elys6es, June 7, 1933. Music: Weill. Choreography: George Balanchine.
  24. Die Rundkopfe and die Spitzkofe (The Roundheads and the Peakheads). Atrocity story, 11 scenes. Written 1931/34. Published 1936. Produced Copenhagen, Riddersalen Theatre, Nov. 4, 1936. Music: Eisler. Based on William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.
  25. Die Horatier and die Kuriatier" (The Horatians and the Curatians). Didactic play for children about dialectics, introduction and 3 episodes. Written 1934. Published 1938. Produced Halle, Theater der Jungen Garde, Apr. 26, 1958. Music: Kurt Schwaen.
  26. Die Gewehre der Frau Carrar" (Senora Carrai s Rifles). Play, 1 act. Written 1937. Published 1937. Produced Paris, Salle Adyar, Oct. 16, 1937; Berlin, Hebbel Theater, after 1945. Free adaptation of J. M. Synge's Riders to the Sea (1903).
  27. Furcht and Elend des dritten Reiches (The Private Life of the Master Race; Fear and Misery in the Third Reich). Play, 28 scenes. Written 1935/38. Published 1945. Produced Paris (selected scenes), May 21, 1938; Los Angeles, Wheeler Auditorium, June 7, 1945.
  28. Leben des Galilei (Galileo). Play, 15 scenes. Written 1938/39. Published 1955. Produced Zurich, Schauspielhaus, Sept. 9, 1943. Music: Eisler.
  29. Mutter Courage and ihre Kinder" (Mother Courage and Her Children). Chronicle play, 12 scenes. Written 1939. Published 1949. Produced Zurich, Schauspielhaus, Apr. 19, 1941; Berlin, Deutsches Theater, Jan. 11, 1949. Music: Dessau. Based on Hans Jakob Grimmelshausen s novel Simplicissimus (1669).
  30. Das Verhdr des Lukullus (The Trial of Lucullus). Radio play, 14 sections. Written 1939. Published 1940. Broadcast by Studio Bern, May 12, 1940. Also produced as opera, East Berlin, Staatsoper, Mar. 17, 1951. Revised version: Die Verurteilung (The Condemnation of Lucullus). Opera. Produced East Berlin, Staatsoper, Oct. 12, 1951. Music (for both versions of opera): Dessau.
  31. Der gute Mensch von Sezuan (The Good Woman of Setzuan). Parable; prologue and epilogue, 10 scenes. Written 1938/40. Published 1953. Produced Zurich, Schauspielhaus, Feb. 4, 1943.
  32. Herr Puntila and sein Knecht Matti (Mr. Puntila and His Hired Man, Matti). Folk play; prologue and epilogue, 12 scenes. Written 1940/ 41. Published 1951. Produced Zurich, Schauspielhaus, June 5, 1948. Music: Dessau. Based on stories by Hella Wuolijoki.
  33. Der aufhaltsame Aufsteig des Arturo Ui (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui). Parable, prologue and 16 scenes; verse. Written 1941. Published 1957. Produced Stuttgart, Nov. 10, 1958.
  34. (With Feuchtwanger). Die Gesichte der Simone Machard (The Visions of Simone Machard). Play, 4 acts. Written 1941/43. Published 1956. Produced Frankfurt am Main, Mar. 8, 1957.
  35. Schweyk im zweiten Weltkrieg (Schweyk in the Second World War). Play; prelude, and postlude, 8 scenes. Written 1941/43. Published 1957. Produced Warsaw (in Polish), Polish Army Theatre, Jan. 17, 1957; Erfurt (in German), March, 1958. Music: Eisler. Based on Jaroslav Ha§ek's novel The Good Soldier Schweik (1920-1923).
  36. Leben des Konfutse (The Ginger Jar). Play. Written before 1944. Published 1958 (only 1 scene).
  37. Der kaukasische Kreidekreis (The Caucasian Chalk Circle). Play, prelude and 5 acts. Written 1944/45. Published 1949. Produced Northfield, Minn. (in English), Carleton College, May 4, 1948; Berlin, Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, June 15, 1954. Music: Dessau. Based on the Chinese play The Circle of Chalk.
  38. Die Antigone des Sophokles (The Antigone of Sophocles). Prologue and play of 1,300 lines; verse. Written 1947/1948. Published 1948. Produced Chur, Switzerland, Stadttheater, Feb. 15, 1948. Based on the Hölderlin translation of the Sophocles play.
  39. Die Tage der Commune (The Days of the Commune). Play, 14 scenes. Written 1948/49. Published 1957. Produced Chemnitz, Nov. 17, 1956. Music: Eisler. Based on Nordahl Grieg's The Defeat.
  40. (Adaptation). Der Hofmeister (The Private Tutor). Play, 5 acts. Written 1950. Published 1951. Produced East Berlin, Berliner Ensemble, Apr. 15, 1950. Adaptation of Jakob Lenz's Der Hofmeister (1778).
  41. Herrnburger Bericht (Report from Herrnburg). 10 songs and commentary, 2 film fragments. Written 1951. Published 1951. Produced East Berlin, Deutsches Theater, Aug. 6, 1951. Music: Dessau.
  42. Der Prozess der Jeanne d'Arc zu Rouen 1431 (The Trial of Joan of Arc at Rouen, 1431). Play, 16 scenes. Written 1952. Published 1959. Produced East Berlin, Berliner Ensemble, Nov. 23, 1952. Based on the radio play by Anna Seghers.
  43. Don Juan. Play, 4 acts. Written 1952. Published 1959. Produced East Berlin, Berliner Ensemble, Nov. 16, 1953. Based on Molière's Don Juan (1665).
  44. Coriolan (Coriolanus). Play. Written 1952/53. Published 1959. Adaptation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus.
  45. Turandot oder Der Kongress der Weisswdscher (Turandot, or The Congress of Whitewashers). Play, 10 scenes. Written 1950-1954. Produced Zurich, 1970. Music: Eisler.
  46. Pauken and Trompeten (Trumpets and Drums). (With Elisabeth Hauptmann and Benne Besson). Play, 12 scenes. Written 1955. Pub Rudolf Wagner-Regeny. Adaptation of George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer (1706).
CRITICISM

German

  1. C. Tolksdorf, John Gays Beggar's Opera and Bert Brechts Dreigroschenoper, Rheinberg, 1934;
  2. H. Luthy, Vom armen Bert Brecht, Frankfurt am Main, 1952;
  3. G. Grosz, Ein kleines Ja and ein grosses Nein, Hamburg, 1955;
  4. E. Schumacher, Die dramatischen Versuche Bertolt Brechts 1918-33, Berlin, 1955;
  5. G. Zwerenz, Aristotelische and Brechtsche Dramatik, Rudolstadt, 1956;
  6. V. Klotz, Bertolt Brecht: Versuch fiber das Werk, Darmstadt, 1957;
  7. S. Melchinger, Drama zwischen Shaw and Brecht: Ein Leitfaden durch das zeitgen5ssische Schauspiel, Bremen, 1957;
  8. K. Fassman, Brecht: Eine Bildbiographie, Munich, 1958;
  9. O. Mann, Bertolt Brecht-Mass oder Mythos?, Heidelberg, 1958;
  10. R. Grimm, Bertolt Brecht: Die Struktur seines Werkes, Niirnberg, 1959;
  11. W. Hinck, Die Dramaturgie des spdten Brecht, Gbttingen, 1959;
  12. H. Jhering, Bertolt Brecht and das Theater, Berlin, 1959;
  13. M. Kesting, Bertolt Brecht, Hamburg, 1959;
  14. C. Niessen, Brecht auf der Buhne, Cologne, 1959;
  15. A. Bronnen, Tage mit Bertolt Brecht: Geschichte einer unvollendeten Freundschaft, Munich, 1960;
  16. H. Jhering, Von Reinhardt bis Brecht: Vier Jahrzehnte Theater and Film, 3 vols., Berlin, 1958-1960;
  17. B. Reich, Bertolt Brecht: Ein Abriss seines Schaffens, Moscow, 1960;
  18. J. Goldhahn, Das Parabelstiick Bertolt Brechts, Rudolstadt, 1961;
  19. R. Grimm, Bertolt Brecht and die Weltliteratur, Niirnberg, 1961;
  20. Das Argernis Brecht, ed. by W. Jaeggi, Basel and Stuttgart, 1961;
  21. W. Hecht, Brechts Weg zum epischen Theater, Berlin, 1962;
  22. H. Kaufmann, Bertolt Brecht: Geschichtsdrama and Parabelshick, Berlin, 1962;
  23. W. Hecht et al., Bertolt Brecht: Leben and Werk, Berlin, 1963;
  24. H. O. Munsterer, Bert Brecht: Erinnerungen aus den Jahren 1917-1922, Zurich, 1963;
  25. F. Sternberg, Der Dichter and die Ratio: Erinnerungen an Bertolt Brecht, Göttingen, 1963;
  26. H. Mayer, Bertolt Brecht and die Tradition, rev. ed., Munich, 1965;
  27. H. J. Schrimpf, Lessing and Brecht: Von der Aufkldrung auf das Theater,
  28. Pfullingen, 1965; W. Zimmermann, Brechts "Leben des Galilei," Düsseldorf, 1965;
  29. H. Rischbieter, Bertolt Brecht, 2 vols., Velber bei Hannover, 1966; Schmidt, "Baal" and der junge Brecht, Stuttgart, 1966;
  30. G. Szczesny, Das Leben des Galilei and der Fall Bertolt Brecht, Frankfurt am Main and Berlin, 1966;
  31. K.-D. Müller, Die Funktion der Geschichte im Werk Bertolt Brechts, Tubingen, 1967;
  32. W. van der Will, Pikaro heute: Metamorphoses des Schelms bei Thomas Mann, Döblin, Brecht, Grass, Stuttgart, 1967;
  33. M. Frisch, Erinnerungen an Brecht, Berlin, 1968;
  34. T. O. Brandt, Die Vieldeutigkeit Bertolt Brechts, Heidelbert, 1968;
  35. W. Hecht et. al., Bertolt Brecht: Sein Leben and Werk, Berlin, 1969;
  36. M. Hahnloser-Ingold, Das englische Theater and Bert Brecht, Bern, 1970;
  37. W. Hecht, Aufsatze fiber Brecht, Berlin, 1970;
  38. R. T. Symington, Brecht and Shakespeare, Bonn, 1970;
  39. H. Arendt, Walter Benjamin, Bertolt Brecht, Munich, 1971;
  40. K. Völker, Brecht-Chronik, Munich, 1971;
  41. W. Mittenzwei, Brechts Verhaltnis zur Tradition, Berlin, 1972;
  42. R. Steinweg, Das Lehrstück, Stuttgart, 1972;
  43. E. Schumacher, Brecht, Theater and Gesellschaft im 20. Jahrhundert, Berlin, 1973;
  44. K.-H. Schoeps, Bertolt Brecht and Bernard Shaw, Bonn, 1974;
  45. H. Seliger, Das Amerikabild Bertolt Brechts, Bonn, 1974;
  46. P. Kussmaul, Bertolt Brecht and das englische Drama der Renaissance, Bern, 1974;
  47. J. Knupf, Bertolt Brecht: Em kritischer Forschungsbericht, Frankfurt am Main, 1974;
  48. K.-H. Ludwig, Bertolt Brecht: Philosophische Grundlagen and Implikationen seiner Dramaturgie, Bonn, 1975;
  49. W. Frisch, Brecht in Augsburg, Frankfurt am Main, 1976;
  50. K. Völker, Bertolt Brecht: Eine Biographie, Munich, 1976.

English

  1. M. Esslin, Brecht: A Choice of Evils, London, 1959;
  2. J. Willett, The Theatre of Bertolt Brecht, Philadelphia, 1959;
  3. M. Esslin, Brecht: The Man and His Work, Garden City, N.Y., 1961;
  4. R. Gray, Bertolt Brecht, New York, 1961;
  5. Brecht: A Collection of Critical Essays, ed. by P. Demetz, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1962;
  6. D. I. Grossvogel, Four Playwrights and a Postscript: Brecht, Ionesco, Beckett, Genet, Ithaca, N.Y., 1962;
  7. W. Weideli, The Art of Bertolt Brecht, New York, 1963;
  8. D. I. Grossvogel, Blasphemers: Theatre of Brecht, Ionesco, Beckett, Genet, Ithaca, N.Y., 1965;
  9. F. Ewen, Bertolt Brecht: His Life, His Art, and His Times, New York, 1967;
  10. M. Spalter, Brecht's Tradition, Baltimore, 1967;
  11. W. Haas, Bertolt Brecht, New York, 1968;
  12. C. R. Lyons, Bertolt Brecht: The Despair and the Polemic, Carbondale, Ill., 1968;
  13. G. Szczesny, Case Against Brecht, tr. by A. Gode, New York, 1968;
  14. J. H. Wulbern, Brecht and Ionesco: Commitment in Context, Urbana, 1971;
  15. W. Benjamin, Understanding Brecht, London, 1973;
  16. S. Mews, Essays on Brecht: Theater and Politics, Chapel Hill, 1974;
  17. H. Witt, ed., Brecht as they knew him, London, 1975.
  18. Marc Silberman, Brecht on Film and Radio, Methuen 2000