Speak Low

Speak Low is a show that crosses theatre, cinema and live music around the figure of Kurt Weill and his simultaneously tragic and fascinating journey. Based on his music — and the poetry that inhabits it — Weill's crossing from Weimar Germany to Nazi Germany and, later, to the United States is followed, in an artistic and human journey marked by exile, reinvention and survival. Throughout the show, the historical and intimate transformations experienced by the composer are revealed through the extraordinary beauty of his work. The creation includes the projection of an original film directed by Adriana Romero and the presence on stage of Catarina Wallenstein, who takes on the role of singer, narrator and central figure of the performative dimension. On stage, the musicians of Orquestra Sem Fronteiras perform Weill's music and dialogue with the actress, building a scenic space of strong emotional and cinematic dimension. The musical arrangements and the narration script included in the film are by Martim Sousa Tavares. Among the main themes addressed are human adaptation, memory, exile and places of memory. In addition to the life and work of Kurt Weill, the creation is also inspired by the universes of Stefan Zweig, W. G. Sebald and Daniel Blaufuks. Speak Low premiered at Teatro Municipal São Luiz, in Lisbon, in December 2024, and has been touring since then.