Weill Double Bill, OpÈra national de Lyon

weill_lyon_7sins.pngBy Francis Carlin [Financial Times, 26 June 2006]
The Lindbergh Flight and The Seven Deadly Sins are stylistically opposed examples of Kurt Weillís work with Brecht. The first, a little-known arid cantata that echoes Hindemith, is a didactic hymn to manís courage, the second ñ frequently performed ñ is a withering satire on religious hypocrisy with Weill in a recognisably jaunty mood. Pairing the two is a long shot, but it pays off magnificently here thanks to FranÁois Girardís imaginative, foot-sure stagings.