Wozzeck

November 01. 2015 - November 21. 2015

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November 01. 2015 - November 21. 2015

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New Production Wozzeck

Raw, powerful, and transformational in its emotional punch and musical form, Wozzeck is an opera that's meant to shake an audience to its core. Sir David McVicar makes his triumphant return to Lyric to deliver a heart-stopping new production of this 20th-century masterpiece.

Wozzeck, a poverty-stricken soldier, is working to support Marie and their young son, born out of wedlock. Mocked, discounted, and abused by his superiors, when he is cheated on by the only woman he loves, he finally snaps — driven to madness and murder. All that remains is a lonely little boy to remind the world that once there was a man named Wozzeck.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts a work he considers one of the most important pieces written in the 20th century, with a stellar cast that includes Tomasz Konieczny, a favored headliner all across Europe, and Angela Denoke, in one of her signature roles, "dramatically as well as vocally transcendent." Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Language: In German with projected English title
Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes (no intermission)
Location: Lyric Opera House

Wozzeck videos

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See what critics are saying about Wozzeck at Lyric Opera

100 minutes of edge-of-your-seat drama! Raw, powerful, and transformational in its emotional punch and musical form, Wozzeck is an opera that's meant to shake an audience to its core.

Angela Denoke on finding the love in Berg's Wozzeck

Soprano, Angela Denoke, talks about finding the love in Berg's powerful drama, Wozzeck!

Director, Sir David McVicar, explains why YOU need to see Berg's Wozzeck

Director, Sir David McVicar, discusses what makes Wozzeck so powerful and real and why you should come experience it for yourself!

Berg's Wozzeck in rehearsal at Lyric Opera

Director, Barbara Gaines on "Why you need to see Wozzeck"

The Marriage of Figaro director, Barbara Gaines, takes a minute to tell you why you need to come see Lyric Opera's new production of Wozzeck from acclaimed director, Sir David McVicar.

Berg's Wozzeck – Trailer

100 minutes of edge-of-your-seat drama! Raw, powerful, and transformational in its emotional punch and musical form, Wozzeck is an opera that's meant to shake an audience to its core. Sir David McVicar makes his triumphant return to Lyric to deliver a heart-stopping new production of this 20th-century masterpiece.

Wozzeck

by Alban Berg

Warner Classics – Skovhus, Denoke, cond. Metzmacher
Warner Classics is the Official Education and Promotion Music Provider of Lyric Opera.

“Du, der Platz ist verflucht!”

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“Und ist kein Betrug”

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Wozzeck

by Alban Berg

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

© 2015/16 Lyric Opera Commentaries
Original sound recordings of musical excerpts used by permission of Warner Classics. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women’s Board.

Commentary by Sir Andrew Davis in collaboration with Jack Zimmerman

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Wozzeck articles

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Begin the Journey...Sir Andrew and Sir David invite you to experience Wozzeck

Alban Berg's raw, powerful and devastatingly moving Wozzeck is returning to Lyric for the first time in 22 years. At the helm of the new production are conductor Sir Andrew Davis and director Sir David McVicar, each undertaking this opera for the first time.

See what critics are saying about Wozzeck at Lyric Opera.

The Reviews are in for Wozzeck!

Synopsis

PLACE: A town with a barracks and university.

Scene 1.

As Wozzeck shaves his captain, the officer regales the uneducated soldier with his philosophical ramblings about the passage of time. Wozzeck finds little to add to the conversation until the captain accuses him of having no morals. Wozzeck replies that he is too poor to be virtuous.

Scene 2.

Wozzeck and Andres, another soldier, gather firewood in a field. Wozzeck’s fears and imaginings disconcert his friend.

Scene 3.

Marie, Wozzeck’s mistress, plays with their child. She exchanges glances with the drum major, who passes in the street at the head of his regiment. Margret, a neighbor who witnesses the scene, angers Marie with malicious comments. Marie sings a lullaby to the child, who soon falls asleep. Wozzeck comes to tell her that he must spend the night at the barracks. He takes no notice of the child, and his disjointed conversation fills Marie with foreboding.

Scene 4.

In the doctor’s study the following day, Wozzeck submits to mockery and experiments in order to earn extra money to support Marie and their child. The doctor rejoices at signs of impending insanity and openly gloats about the fame that will come to him as a result of these experiments.

Scene 5.

That evening, Marie admires the drum major in the street in front of her house. After a brief flirtation, she takes him inside.
Scene 1.

In her house, Marie delights in a pair of earrings the drum major has given her. When Wozzeck arrives, he asks her where she got them. Her lie – that she found them – does not convince him. He gives her some money and leaves.

Scene 2.

The captain and the doctor meet. A perfunctory diagnosis of apoplexy momentarily terrifies the captain. When Wozzeck happens to appear, the two men make insinuating remarks about Marie’s fidelity.

Scene 3.

On the street in front of her house, Marie quarrels with Wozzeck. When he is about to strike her, she cries out that she would rather be killed than submit to his abuse. Wozzeck broods on her last words.

Scene 4.

Wozzeck sees Marie dancing with the drum major in a tavern. Before Wozzeck can give vent to his jealousy, the dance ends, and he is distracted by the drunken soldiers with a song and a mock sermon. As the dancing resumes, a simpleminded man approaches Wozzeck and declares that he smells blood.

Scene 5.

In the barracks, Wozzeck’s misery keeps him from sleeping. An obsessive vision of a knife makes him cry out, awakening Andres. The drum major, drunk, enters boasting of his conquest. He starts a fight with Wozzeck and beats him savagely
Scene 1.

Marie reads from the Bible. She is stricken with remorse and premonitions of her own death.

Scene 2.

Wozzeck and Marie walk beside a pond. She is terrified by his strange behavior and tries to escape, but he kills her.

Scene 3.

In a tavern, Wozzeck tries to forget his crime. He dances with Margret, who notices blood on his hands. Wozzeck stammers incriminating excuses and dashes out into the night.

Scene 4.

Returning to the pond, Wozzeck searches for the knife. He finds it near Marie’s body and throws the weapon into the water. Confused and fearing he may not have thrown it far enough, Wozzeck wades into the pond and drowns. As the captain and the doctor stroll by, they hear a strange noise. The superstitious captain hurries the doctor away from the eerie spot without investigating.

Scene 5.

A group of children are playing when another child runs in to give the news of Marie’s death. The children run off to view the body. Marie’s son, too young to understand, continues playing.

Meet the artists

Tomasz Konieczny

Wozzeck

Polish bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny made his Lyric debut as the title role/Wozzeck (2015|16)

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Angela Denoke

Marie

German soprano Angela Denoke made her Lyric debut as Marie/Wozzeck (2015|16)

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Gerhard Siegel

Captain

German tenor Gerhard Siegel made his Lyric debut as Captain/Wozzeck (2015|16)

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Stefan Vinke

Drum Major

German tenor Stefan Vinke's Lyric credits include Drum Major/ Wozzeck (2015|16)

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Brindley Sherrat

Doctor

British bass Brindley Sherrat made his Lyric debut as Bartolo/The Marriage of Figaro (2015|16)

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David Portillo

Andres

Ryan Opera Center alumnus

American tenor and Ryan Opera Center alumnus David Portillo's Lyric credits include Arbace/Idomeneo (2018/19) and Andres/Wozzeck (2015/16)

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Jill Grove

Margret

American mezzo-soprano Jill Grove has triumphed in twelve roles at Lyric since 2003|04

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Brenton Ryan

Fool

Tenor Brenton Ryan made his Lyric debut as Fool in Wozzeck (2015|16).

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Bradley Smoak

1st Apprentice

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Bass-baritone Bradley Smoak is a native of North Carolina and a Ryan Opera Center member alumnus.

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Anthony Clark Evans

2nd Apprentice

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Anthony Clark Evans has sung twelve roles at Lyric Opera since his 2013|14 season debut

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Alec Carlson

Soldier

Tenor Alec Carlson is a native of Red Oak, Iowa, and in his second year in the Ryan Opera Center.

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Sir Andrew Davis

Conductor

Sir Andrew Davis served as music director and principal conductor of Lyric Opera of Chicago from 2000 through the 2020/21 Season.

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Sir David McVicar

Director

The renowned Scottish director’s productions are seen annually in major houses worldwide.

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Vicki Mortimer

Set and Costume Designer

Set and Costume Designer Vicki Mortimer's Lyric credits include Wozzeck (2015|16)

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Paule Constable

Lighting Designer

Lighting Designer Paule Costable's Lyric credits include Wozzeck (2015|16) and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (2012|13).

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Michael Black

Chorus Master

Michael Black has served Lyric Opera of Chicago since the 2013/14 Season.

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Andrew George

Choreographer

Choreographer Andrew Geroge's Lyric credits include Wozzeck (2015|16) and Rusalka (2013|14).

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