Ute Lemper

Ute Lemper’s career is vast and multifaceted. Over 40 years, she has made her mark on stage, in film, in concert, and as a distinctive recording artist, with more than 30 CDs to her name. She has been widely acclaimed for her interpretations of Berlin cabaret songs, the works of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, and the chansons of Marlene Dietrich, Édith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Léo Ferré, Jacques Prévert, Nino Rota, Astor Piazzolla, and many others – including her own compositions. Her performances in musicals and plays on Broadway, in Paris, Berlin, and London’s West End have further cemented her reputation.

She has received numerous accolades, including the British Laurence Olivier Award and the American Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in Chicago in the West End and on Broadway, as well as the French Molière Award for her performance as Sally Bowles in Cabaret in Paris. In addition, she has earned multiple international music and theatre awards, along with several Grammy nominations.

In 2023, Ute published her autobiography, Die Zeitreisende, which became an instant Spiegel bestseller. As a singer-songwriter, she released her most recent album, Time Traveler, reflecting on her 60-year journey in tandem with her book. She is now preparing to release her latest album, Pirate Jenny – Kurt Weill Reimagined, in celebration of Kurt Weill’s 125th birthday.

Ute traces the formation of her artistic identity to her time as a young German woman in the early 1980s, actively engaged in the West Berlin theatre scene before the fall of the Wall. The global success of her early Kurt Weill recordings set her on a path of artistic responsibility – one that compels her to confront themes of humanity’s failures and the weight of historical crimes. She believes that only through grief and constant dialogue can we learn, carry trauma with responsibility, and grow as both artists and human beings.