"The power in these songs comes from the absolutely unapologetic, unsentimental, storytelling of Brecht’s characters, set against the aching poignancy and simplicity of Weill’s music.

"Excepting Lotterie-agent’s tango and Weill’s most famous song, 'Mack the Knife', every song is a sharply drawn sketch of a woman in a moment of time, dealing with whatever life has thrown her way. They are often snapshots of a woman from the underbelly, that society has forgotten. The fascination is in the brutal, rough-edged honesty of these women in extreme, yet time again we see the vulnerability, humor, and joy under their tough exteriors. There’s Brecht for you.

"And yet, Weill adds this other layer with his setting of Brecht’s texts. This music is positively infectious – catchy, joyful, danceable--even as he matches Brecht tone for tone in his painful dissonance and brutal percussiveness. His music contains this sweetness, this unimaginable simplicity.

"These are stark portraits. Powerful, controversial statements on society. and underneath, is great fragility and beauty."