Oct 1, 2021
If you’ve ever found yourself
wondering how in the world the 2011 Lou Reed/Metallica album
Lulu came into existence, here’s your answer, fish-bulb!
This isn’t quite a full episode, so we’ll call it a mini-sode and
it’s all about the roots of the aforementioned collaborative
endeavor. Included in this discussion (or maybe it’s more along the
lines of a monologue) is information about the original author of
the Lulu plays, Frank Wedekind, as well as Alban Berg, the
composer of the operatic adaptation of the Lulu stories.
Interspersed within the narrative are excerpts of ensemble readings
from Wedekind’s “Earth Spirit” and a sample of Berg’s Lulu
opera, featuring Evelyn Berg. For those who stick it through to the
end of the episode, there’s a special, once-in-a-lifetime contest
featuring a prize for one lucky listener.
All this is prologue for our next full-length episode in which we will be joined by the illustrious and insightful Arianne for a thorough discussion of the Lulu album itself! Watch for it!
Related, recommended, and required resources for this episode: