Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings and the Detroit Opera Present Mahagonny Songspiel in a Powerful Collaboration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Jainelle Robinson
ArtOps | Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings
(248) 559-2095
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www.detroitchamberwinds.org
Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings and the Detroit Opera Present Mahagonny Songspiel in a Powerful Collaboration
Detroit, MI — Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (DCWS) continues its Signature series with a collaborative performance of Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiel alongside the Detroit Opera on Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park. At 2:30 p.m. before the concert begins, U-M Clinical Professor of Music Caroline Helton will give a pre-concert talk highlighting the musical and historical context of the original composition and the themes that resonate from Weimar Germany to our present day in the U.S.
At the center of the program is Mahagonny Songspiel (1927), the first collaboration between composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht. This compact scenic cantata marks the beginning of a groundbreaking artistic partnership that challenged audiences to confront the social realities of its time. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Berlin, the work presents a series of songs that explore a fictional city driven by excess and disillusionment. Though brief in form, Mahagonny Songspiel laid the foundation for Weill and Brecht’s later full-scale opera The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, and remains a striking example of music and theatre used as social commentary.
This performance is presented in collaboration with Detroit Opera, one of the region’s leading cultural institutions and a premier presenter of opera, theatre, and dance. The organization is recognized for its innovative programming and commitment to community engagement, regularly bringing artists of national and international stature to audiences across the region.
Featured in this performance are artists from the Detroit Opera, including tenor Cameron Barrett Johnson and baritone Rolfe Dauz, alongside members of the Detroit Opera Resident Artist Program. Led by Nathalie Doucet, Head of Music and Resident Artist Program Director for the Detroit Opera, the program provides individualized coaching, mentorship, and performance opportunities for emerging professional singers. Selected through a highly competitive international process, the 2025–26 Resident Artists are sopranos Brianna J. Robinson and Mia Mandineau, tenor Travis Leon Williams, and baritone Cole Bellamy.
“I’m deeply proud of the work we do together, both onstage and in the community,” said Doucet. “It’s a privilege to guide these singers as they grow, and to share this journey with them as they become powerful ambassadors for the art form.”
The concert will also feature Maurice Ravel’s Deux mélodies hébraïques, a pair of songs that reflect the composer’s sensitivity to text, language, and cultural tradition. Originally written for voice and piano and later orchestrated, these works move between French, Aramaic, and Yiddish, offering a lyrical and introspective contrast to the bold theatricality of Weill’s score.
Continuing DCWS’ commitment to emerging artists, the program includes the premiere of Melencolia by University of Michigan (U-M) student and composer Oleksandr (Alex) Kostov. The work was commissioned by DCWS for the Pandan String Quartet of the Oberlin Conservatory, featuring violinists Sebastien Tsai and Eleanor O’Brien, violist Holly Bogle, and cellist Madeleine Hearn. This collaboration is part of DCWS’s annual partnership with U-M and Oberlin, supporting the development of young composers and performers.
The performance features conductor Timothy Weiss and a roster of instrumentalists, including Jiamin Wang and Kate Dreyfuss, violins; Jack Walters and Ryan King, clarinets; Timothy McAllister, alto saxophone; Thaddeus Archer and Natalia Vela, trumpets; David Jackson, trombone; Jay Ritchie and Keith Claeys, percussion; and John Etsell, piano.
The concert also acknowledges the dedication of the Margaret E. Winters Endowed Cello Chair, created in memory of Margaret Winters. Cellist David LeDoux will perform a special solo work by Bach in recognition of this occasion, with all cellists holding this distinction throughout the season.
Event Details
Performance sponsored by Lillian & Walter Dean
This performance is funded in part by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, Inc., New York, NY.
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Time: 3 PM
Location: Temple Emanu-El
14450 W 10 Mile Rd
Oak Park, MI 48237
Tickets:
General Admission – $32
Senior – $27
Student – $10
Tickets are available at www.detroitchamberwinds.org or by calling (248) 559-2095.
About Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings
Founded in 1982, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (DCWS) is a musician-driven nonprofit that showcases the premier musical talent of our region through innovative and exceptional performances of chamber music in unique venues. With a mission to deepen audience connections and community impact, DCWS fosters collaboration, education, and artistic excellence across Metro Detroit.Now in its 44th season, DCWS continues to explore the intersection of sound and place through the season theme Hear • Here, which invites audiences to be fully present, to listen deeply, and to experience the power of chamber music in community.