Ute Lemper
The
same year, she discovered Kurt Weill. In 1986, Ute Lemper met Jérôme Savary in
Stuttgart. He invited her to play the role of Sally Bowles in a production of
Cabaret to be performed in Lyon, Düsseldorf, Rosme and Paris. She
received the Molière award for her performance as Sally Bowles in the Paris
production at the Théâtre Mogador. In 1987, Ute Lemper acted and sang in a
show based on the life and repertoire of Kurt Weill in New York. This
production brought her engagements on her first world tour that led her to
Milan's Piccolo Teatro, to Berlin, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York, Paris,
Jerusalem, London and Barcelona. Ms Ute Lemper also appeared in a series of
films: as Queen Marie-Antoinette in L'Autrichienne by Pierre
Granier-Deferre, as Ceres in Peter Greenaway's Prospero's Books and in
the role of Alberta in Robert Altman's film Prêt á Porter (she appeared
naked in the final scene of the film - while she was pregnant with her son
Max, who was born in May 1994). But as often, a star abroad is nobody at home.
Her German career reached its low point in 1992 with her role as Lola in
Blue Angel directed by Zadek in Berlin. She was not considered sexy
enough, a cheap nightclub performer.
Deeply hurt, she left Germany for Paris, London and New York, where she not only found recognition, but also a new home and a family, founded with her American husband, actor and comedian David Tabatsky. They have two children, Max and Stella. Ms Ute Lemper, as a true artist, does not rest on her laurels - she transforms herself, always open for change. After Kurt Weill came the musicals Cabaret and Chicago, where she shone as the vamp-murderess Velma Kelly, which won her the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Ute Lemper also sang the Nyman-songbook, the repertoire of Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich. She appeared at Milan's La Scala and sang The Seven Deadly Sins with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano. She performed as a principal dancer in La Mort Subite, a ballet created for her by Maurice Béjart. In 1993, she had her paintings exhibited in Paris and Hamburg. Ms Ute Lemper also wrote articles for Libération, Die Welt and The Guardian. In 1995, her first book, Unzensiert (Uncensored), was published. Although she had already published a pop album in 1991, Crimes of the Heart, with her new album, Punishing Kiss, Ms Ute Lemper again heads into new territory, performing songs written by Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and others. The concert tour with her new album brought her back to Germany - where she at last, at 36, has achieved recognition. She not only performed her new songs, but e.g. also Jacques Brel's Amsterdam and Ne Me Quittes Pas. CONTINUES ON P44