Berg's Wozzeck - Act 1 Opening

Notes from wikipedia
Scene 1 (Suite)
Wozzeck is shaving the Captain who taunts him for living an immoral life, in particular for having a child "without the blessing of the Church". Wozzeck protests that it is difficult to be virtuous when he is poor, but entreats the Captain to remember the lesson from the gospel, ""Laßet die Kleinen zu mir kommen!"" ("Suffer the little children to come unto me," Mark 10:14). The Captain greets this admonition with pointed dismay.

Scene 2 (Rhapsody and Hunting Song)
Wozzeck and Andres are cutting sticks as the sun is setting. Wozzeck has frightening visions and Andres tries unsuccessfully to calm him.

The first opera I fell in love with, well... sorta. Scene 1 is my favorite. It has always captured my attention. Amazing expressivity and the captain has interesting choreography ("langsam" arms). This is an excellent performance though the staging is somewhat minimalist and less literal than what is typically done.

Wozzeck, Franz Grundheber
Captain, Graham Clark
Berlin Staatskapelle
Daniel Barenboim, conductor

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wozzeck
• Alban
• Berg
• Opera
• Franz
• Grunheber
• Graham
• Clark