WOZZECK (Alban Berg) Aix 2023 Simon Rattle, Christian Gerhaher, Malin Byström

WOZZECK by Alban Berg
Grand Theatre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
July 13, 2023

CAST

Christian Gerhaher (Wozzeck)

Malin Byström (Marie)

Thomas Blondelle (Tambourmajor)

Brindley Sherratt (Doktor)

Peter Hoare (Hauptmann, Narr)

Robert Lewis (Andres)

Héloïse Mas (Margret)

Matthieu Toulouse (Erster Handwerksbursche)

Tomasz Kumięga (Zweiter Handwerksbursche)
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Conductor: Simon Rattle

London Symphony Orchestra

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Maîtrise des Bouches-du-Rhône
Chorus Master :Lodewijk van der Ree,Samuel Coquard
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Stage Director: Simon McBurney
Stage Designer: Miriam Buether
Costume Designer: Christina Cunningham
Lighting Designer: Paul Anderson
Choreographer: Leah Hausman
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Wozzeck (German pronunciation: [ˈvɔtsɛk]) is the first opera by the Austrian composer Alban Berg. Composed between 1914 and 1922, it premiered in 1925. It is based on the drama Woyzeck, which German playwright Georg Büchner left incomplete at his death. Berg attended the first production in Vienna of Büchner’s play on 5 May 1914, and knew at once that he wanted to base an opera on it. (At the time, the play was still known as Wozzeck, due to an incorrect transcription by Karl Emil Franzos, who was working from a barely-legible manuscript; the correct title would not emerge until 1921.) From the fragments of unordered scenes left by Büchner, Berg selected 15 to form a compact structure of three acts with five scenes each. He adapted the libretto himself, retaining “the essential character of the play, with its many short scenes, its abrupt and sometimes brutal language, and its stark, if haunted, realism”.

The plot depicts the everyday lives of soldiers and the townspeople of a rural German-speaking town. Prominent themes of militarism, callousness, social exploitation, and casual sadism are brutally and uncompromisingly presented. Toward the end of act 1, scene 2, the title character (Wozzeck) murmurs, “Still, all is still, as if the world died,” with his fellow soldier Andres muttering, “Night! We must get back!” seemingly oblivious to Wozzeck’s words. A funeral march begins, only to transform into the upbeat song of the military marching band in the next scene. Musicologist Glenn Watkins considers this “as vivid a projection of impending world doom as any to come out of the Great War”.

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.

Quoted from Wikipedia