Wozzeck

Wozzeck – Alban Berg | Opera
Total duration: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes

“I saw Wozzeck on stage before the war, and it made such an incredible impression on me that I decided to set it to music immediately.” This is what Alban Berg wrote to his friend and colleague Anton Webern in 1918, at a time when his name was known only within the small circle of Schoenberg’s students. International fame and recognition would come a few years later, thanks in large part to Wozzeck, an opera inspired by Georg Büchner’s novel of the same name, which would soon become a landmark work of the early twentieth century and a symbol of Expressionist theatre. In Büchner’s text, Berg found themes particularly dear to the Expressionist aesthetic, such as nightmare, mental alienation, and brutal murder. The three-act opera in fifteen scenes premiered at the Berlin State Opera on 14 December 1925, achieving considerable success. Berg conceived the work as a system of closed forms, where each scene of each act corresponds to a formal structure from Western instrumental tradition—such as the suite, the rhapsody, the march, or the passacaglia, to name a few—reinterpreted through an orchestral writing that is stark and anguished. On the vocal side, the almost spoken singing in Sprechgesang by Wozzeck stands out, abandoning melodic artifice to emphasize the protagonist’s poignant humanity.

Synopsis

Act 1

Scene 1 (Suite)

Wozzeck shaves the Captain, who lectures him on the qualities of a "decent man" and taunts him for living an immoral life. Wozzeck dutifully replies, "Jawohl, Herr Hauptmann" ("Yes sir, Captain") to these repeated insults. When the Captain scorns Wozzeck's having a child "without the blessing of the Church", Wozzeck argues that poverty makes virtue difficult and quotes Mark 10:14, "Lasset die Kleinen zu mir kommen" ("Allow the little children to come to me"). Confused, the Captain asks for clarification. Wozzeck grows agitated as he explains, crying out that if the poor ever "got to Heaven, we'd all have to manufacture thunder!" to tumultuous, crackling music. The Captain abruptly tries to calm Wozzeck, conceding that he is "a decent man, only you think too much!" The tired Captain exits.

Scene 2 (Rhapsody and Hunting Song)

Wozzeck and Andres cut sticks at sunset. Andres sings a hunting song. Wozzeck experiences frightening visions and grows agitated. Andres tries to calm him.

Scene 3 (March and Lullaby)

Marie admires a military parade when Margret mocks her for her interest in the soldiers. Marie shuts the window. She sings a self-soothing lullaby to her son. Wozzeck arrives, sharing his troubling visions. He leaves without even seeing their child, much to Marie's dismay. She laments their poverty.

Scene 4 (Passacaglia)

The Doctor scolds Wozzeck for not following his strict orders, involving a restrictive diet and urine collection. He is delighted when Wozzeck's mental illness becomes apparent.

Scene 5 (Rondo)

Marie admires the Drum Major from her doorway. He makes advances, which she first rejects but then accepts after a short struggle.

Act 2

Scene 1 (Sonata-Allegro)

Marie admires her earrings, a gift from the Drum Major. She bids her son to sleep. Wozzeck arrives, startling her. He asks about the earrings, and she claims she found them. He doubts that, but gives her money and leaves. Marie is wracked with guilt.

Scene 2 (Fantasia and Fugue on Three Themes)

Echoing the opening scene, the Captain urges the Doctor to slow down as they pass. The Doctor taunts the Captain with a list of frightening diagnoses for his ailments. As Wozzeck passes, they hint that Marie is unfaithful to him.

Scene 3 (Largo)

Wozzeck confronts Marie. She does not deny it. Enraged, he nearly strikes her. She stops him. "Better a knife in my belly than your hands on me," she says. Wozzeck repeats this after her, considering it.

Scene 4 (Scherzo)

Wozzeck spots Marie out dancing with the Drum Major. While soldiers sing a hunter's chorus, Andres notices Wozzeck sitting alone and asks why. An Apprentice is drunkenly preaching when an Idiot stumbles toward Wozzeck, crying, "Lustig, ... aber es riecht ... Ich riech Blut!" ("Joyful, ... but it reeks ... I smell blood!")

Scene 5 (Rondo)

In the barracks at night, Wozzeck cannot sleep without thinking about Marie, disturbing Andres. Wozzeck prays while everyone snores. The Drum Major enters and beats Wozzeck, who is humiliated. Some watch. Wozzeck dissociates.

Act 3

Scene 1 (Invention on a Theme)

In her room at night, Marie reads from the Bible, crying out for mercy.

Scene 2 (Invention on a Single Note (B))

Wozzeck and Marie walk along a pond in the forest. Wozzeck grabs her when she tries to flee. He stabs her, declaring that if he can't have her, no one else can. A blood-red moon rises.

Scene 3 (Invention on a Rhythm)

In a tavern, Wozzeck dances with Margret. He pulls her onto his lap, insults her, and demands that she sing. As she does, people notice blood on Wozzeck. They raise alarm. Agitated and terrified, Wozzeck flees.

Scene 4 (Invention on a Hexachord)

Wozzeck tries to retrieve the knife from the pond. Hallucinating, he speaks to Marie. He has paranoid delusions about the blood-red moon telling the world about his crime. He becomes frantic and drowns in what he imagines is blood. Nearby, the Captain and Doctor are enjoying a slow walk. They shudder at the sound of someone drowning and quickly leave.

Interlude (Invention on a Key (D minor))

This interlude leads to the finale.

Scene 5 (Invention on an Eighth-Note moto perpetuo, quasi toccata)

The next morning, children play and sing in the sunny street outside Marie's door. News spreads that she is dead. They all run off to see the body. Marie's son is unaffected by the news, even after it is shouted at him. After some delay, he follows the others, oblivious.

Program and cast

Conductor and music director: Thomas Guggeis
Chorus master: Lorenzo Fratini
Director: Deborah Warner
Set design: Hyemi Shin
Costumes: Nicky Gillibrand
Lighting: Adam Silverman
Choreography: Kim Brandstrup
Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Wozzeck - Wolfgang Koch
Andres - Sam Furnes
Captain - Peter Hoare
Doctor - Clive Bayley
First Journeyman - Barnaby Rea
Marie - Anja Kampe
Margret - Helena Rasker

Production by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Cast updated as of 30 June 2025