Barrie Kosky On Why ‘The Threepenny Opera’ Still Cuts Deep

Problematic but a classic, The Threepenny Opera was trouble from the time of its premiere at Theater am Schiffbauerdamm back in 1928. “It’s one of the most famous disasters of all time,” director Barrie Kosky tells Observer. “Half of the set fell down about half an hour before the show. The audience didn’t understand it; they didn’t really like it. Everyone thought it was going to be the biggest flop of all time.”

Kosky, considered the finest opera director of his generation, is bringing his 2021 Berliner Ensemble production to St.