Ushering in the New Year with Kurt Weill

The start of a new year often invites both reflection and celebration.

On Saturday, 3 January 2015, BBC Radio 4 looks back on Kurt Weill’s journey from German Jewish refugee to Broadway legend in a new documentary, “Speak Low, Speak Weill.”

Created by producer Llinos Jones, the half-hour feature weaves together personal reflections by cabaret star Ute Lemper, musical examples, archival excerpts of Weill and Lotte Lenya and insights by Weill authorities Kim H. Kowalke, Stephen Hinton and James Holmes to illuminate Weill’s fascinating story and extraordinary contributions to the theatre.

The programme will be broadcast at 3:30 pm and will be available on BBC iPlayer for two weeks after the original broadcast.