The Seven Deadly Sins AKA The Seven Deadly Sins of the Petty Bourgeoisie

The Seven Deadly Sins, also known asThe Seven Deadly Sins of the Petty Bourgeoisie, is a work for performing arts by Bertolt Brecht (book/lyrics) and Kurt Weill (music). It has been used as a basis for theatre, for opera and for ballet. The original title in German is Die sieben Todsünden der Kleinbürger. It has been translated into the Norwegian as Småborgernes syv dødssynder and as De syv dødssynder.

Originally The Seven Deadly Sins was written on commission as a ballet, commissioned by the wealthy Englishman Edward James, who was married to the ballerina Tilly Losch. George Balanchine choreographed, and the world premiere took place at Théâtre des Champs Élysées in Paris in 1933. Later, the work has been performed as theatre and as opera, too.