Ute Lemper

Biography

Ute Lemper’s career is vast and varied. She has made her mark on the stage, in films, in concert and as a unique recording artist on more than 30 CDs over 40 years of career. She has been universally praised for her interpretations of Berlin Cabaret Songs, the works of Kurt Weill and Berthold Brecht and the Chansons of Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Léo Ferré, Jacques Prevert, Nino Rota, Astor Piazzolla many others and also her own compositions, as well as her portrayals in musicals and plays on Broadway, in Paris, Berlin and in London’s West End.

At the moment Ute mainly dedicates her concert tours to the theatrical show Rendezvous with Marlene which is her homage to Marlene Dietrich and tells her true story in word and music. This show is hugely popular and performances are scheduled all over the world. Her latest album, also named Rendezvous with Marlene, featuring 20 of the most beloved songs that Marlene sang, but reinvented by Ute, her musicians and the beautiful sounding Viennese Orchestra, was released to coincide with the shows.

Rendezvous with Marlene is based on a 3-hour phone call and exchange between Marlene Dietrich and Ute Lemper in 1988 in Paris, more than 30 years ago. After receiving the French Molière Award for her performance in Cabaret in Paris, Ute had sent a postcard to Marlene, who had lived at 12 Avenue de Montaigne since 1979, essentially apologizing for all the media attention comparing her to Marlene Dietrich. Ute was just at the beginning of her career in theatre and music, whereas Marlene looked back on a long, fulfilled life of movies, music, incredible collaborations, love stories and stardom.

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Reviews

“An extraordinary, unforgettable evening with a sublime artist at the height of her powers.”

Jeremy Chapman

Musical Theatre Review

“This isn’t simply an evening about an incredible woman. It isn’t, either, just an evening of beautiful songs performed by a world-class performer.”

Shane Morgan

Notes from the Field

“Pure gold…Ute is every inch the ‘new Marlene’ and she brings us a theatrical event that will be talked about for years to come by new generations encountering Dietrich for the first time. A staggering night of pure-diamond entertainment.”

Brian Butler

GScene