Down In The Valley: An American Folk Opera

by Kurt Weill

Down In The Valley: An American Folk Opera cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1950
  • Label: RCA Victor Red Seal
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 29:00
  • Community rating: 2.53/5 from 3 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Originally conceived as a radio opera, this release captures Kurt Weill's integration of American folk melodies into a formal, dramatic framework. The RCA Victor Orchestra and Chorus perform the accessible, narrative-driven score, which relies heavily on traditional tunes like the titular 'Down in the Valley.' It is a fascinating document of the German expatriate's deep assimilation into the American musical landscape.

Genres

Descriptors: Soundtrack

Tracklist

  1. Down In The Valley (Part 1) (14:10)
  2. Down In The Valley (Concluded) (14:50)

Credits

  • Kurt Weill - primary artist, composed by
  • Arnold Sundgaard - primary artist, libretto by
  • William McGraw - baritone vocals
  • Kenneth Smith - bass vocals
  • Ray Jacquemot - bass vocals
  • Roy Johnston - bass vocals
  • Ralph Teferteller - caller
  • RCA Victor Chorus - chorus
  • Peter Herman Adler - conductor
  • Carole O'Hara - contralto vocals
  • Arthur Cohn - liner notes
  • RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra - orchestra
  • Jeanne Privette - soprano vocals
  • Marion Bell - soprano vocals
  • Robert Holland - tenor vocals
  • Richard Barrows - voice

More from Kurt Weill: full discography