| . | 12/14/2009
Ute Lemper at Joe’s Pub: Last Tango in Berlin
By: Deirdre Donovan
If Marlene Dietrich was the special favorite of German song connoisseurs, Ute Lemper is following right after her legendary footsteps. The German-born chanteuse and songwriter returned to Joes’ Pub in mid December with her new show, “Last Tango in Berlin.” And with her sexy growl of a voice, she won the audience over with a medley of songs in English, French, Spanish, Yiddish, and her native-German.
Lemper’s rough-and-ready delivery made for an evening that was riveting. She began with a triple volley of Jacques Brel songs: a haunting reverie (“La Chanson de Jacky”), the symbolic Dove (“La Colombe”) and a salty port-of-call anthem (“Amsterdam”). As these songs played out, you could really get a feel for Montmartre cabaret, the byroads of Pigalle, and the soldiers and sailors life in Europe circa World War II.
Following this opener, she turned to the Argentine-born composer Piazzolla and Ferrer. Piazzolla once wrote: “For me, tango was always for the ear rather than the feet.” Rightly so, for his words certainly take on weight in this show. Lemper soared into 4 jazzy Piazzolla’s numbers, including “Soledad,” “You Soy Maria,” “Chiquilin,” and the “Ballada Para Un Locco /Crazy.” Like Piazzolla, Lemper is ever blurring the line between the popular and classical tradition. And she feels equally at home in either tradition.
The last portion of the show celebrated German cabaret songs. Lemper has a natural affinity with Berlin theatre songs, and she ratcheted up the energy with her gutsy interpretation of Kurt Weill’s “Moritat von Mackie Messer/Mack the Knife.” Wearing a bowler hat and boa, she gave us a real taste of the old cabaret world. Besides “Mackie,” she belted out 3 more German classics—“Koffer in Berlin,” “Sourabaya Johnny,” “Mein Herr”—each marked with Lemper’s fierce signature.
Dressed in elegant black slacks and matching vest, Lemper delivered some authentic razzle-dazzle during the 90-minute show. She moved oh-so-easily on stage, and looked equally comfortable when she stepped off the stage and mingled with the audience. In fact, her knock ‘em dead “Vamp” was swankily executed as she circulated through the audience as femme fatale, casually landing in the laps of a couple of men.
Let’s hope that the Last Tango in Berlin has a sequel in the making. Its run was far too short and far too good.
Last Tango in Berlin
At Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette Street
www.joespub.com
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