The seven deadly sins

The Seven Deadly Sins tells the story of two sisters, Anna I and Anna II. read more Anna I, the singer, is the main singer. Her sister Anna II, the dancer, is heard only infrequently and the lyrics hint at the possibility that they are the same person: "To convey the inherent ambivalence of the 'sinner', Brecht splits the personality of Anna into Anna I, the cynical impresario with common sense and a conscience, and Anna II, the emotional, impulsive, artistic beauty, the saleable product with an all too human heart. Both sisters set out from the banks of the Mississippi in Lousiana to find their fortune in the big cities, and to send enough money back to their family to build a little house on the river. After the prologue seven scenes are devoted to the seven deadly sins, each of which are encountered in a different American city: Sloth, Pride, Wrath, Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Envy. After arriving back home seven years later, the sisters seemingly succeed in securing the means to buy the little house. But what did Anna win herself?

The last collaboration of the successful duo Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, "The Seven Deadly Sins", was composed during in exile in France and premiered in 1933 in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Thanks to the record by the famous singer Lotte Lenya, which appeared in 1956, the play was made known to a large audience.

Dates and cast

Premiered on 30^th of December, 2014

A Tyrolean Festival Erl production.
Length: 55 minutes

With Mona Somm (Anna I), Korinna Krauss (Anna II), Michael Doumas (mother, Basso Buffo), Markus Herzog  (father, Tenor), Ulfried Haselsteiner (brother, Tenor) and Ludovic Kendy (brother, Bass) as well as Pia Angelis, Ulrike Hübl, Birte Flint, Sonja Kessner, Martin Beck, Andreas Schwankl, Georg Grigoiran, Robert Stuc, Timo Nikaneen, Joachim Quirin | Stage Direction Cornelia Rainer | Conductor Erich Polz | Set Design Sarah Haas | Costume Design Miriam Draxl, Sarah Haas back