Lenya, Lotte [ Blamauer, Karoline] (b Vienna, 1898; d NY, 1981). Austrian-born singer of mezzo-soprano quality (Amer. cit.). Went to Zurich 1914. Member of corps de ballet, Zurich Stadttheater and made stage acting début at Schauspielhaus. Moved to Berlin 1920, where she met the playwright Bertolt Brecht and the composer Kurt Weill, whose wife she became in 1926. Singing début Baden-Baden 1927 (Mahagonny). Created Jenny in Die Dreigroschenoper, Berlin 1928. Her distinctive singing style and accomplished acting made a major contribution to the success of the Brecht–Weill collaborations, especially in such songs as ‘Pirate Jenny’, ‘Surabaya Johnny’ and ‘Alabama Song’. With Weill, went to USA in 1933 and made new career in plays and films, incl. From Russia with Love.

Lenya, Lotte (1898–1981) Austrian singer and actress. Lenya became famous in two notable Brecht plays with musical scores by her husband Kurt Weill, namely The Threepenny Opera (1928) and The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1930). She emigrated to the USA in 1935.