Wozzeck - Alban Berg
Information about the opera Wozzeck by Alban Berg, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
An important and influential opera, atonal and not easy listening.
Synopsis
The opera is about a jealous soldier who becomes obsessed with murdering his girlfriend because she has been unfaithful with the drum-major.
Recommended recordings on CD
Böhm/Berry/Goltz (Andante AN3060)
Walter Berry's definitive interpretation of Wozzeck recorded live at the Vienna Staatsoper in 1955.
Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, conducted by Karl Böhm, 1955.
Cast: Walter Berry (Wozzeck), Christel Goltz (Marie), Peter Klein (Captain), Karl Dönch (Doctor), Murray Dickie (Andres).
Andante AN3060 (mono)
Segerstam/Falkmann/Dalayman (Naxos 8.660076-77)
Royal Stockholm Opera Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Opera Chorus, conducted by Leif Segerstam, 2000.
Cast: Carl Johan Falkmann (Wozzeck), Katarina Dalayman (Marie), Ulrik Qvale (Captain), Sten Wahlund (Doctor), Klas Hedlund (Andres).
Naxos 8.660076-77
Barenboim/Meier/Wottrich (Teldec 0630-14108-2)
A superb live recording with few weaknesses.
Berlin Deutsche Oper Children's Chorus, Berlin Staatskapelle Chorus, Berlin Staatskapelle Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
Cast: Waltraud Meier (Wozzeck), Endrik Wottrich (Marie), Franz Grundheber (Captain), Graham Clark (Doctor), Günter von Kannen (Andres).
Teldec 0630-14108-2
Abbado/Behrens/Zednik (Deutsche Grammophon 423 587-2)
Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, conducted by Claudio Abbado.
Cast: Hildegard Behrens (Wozzeck), Heinz Zednik (Marie), Alfred Sramek (Captain), Aage Haugland (Doctor), Philip Langridge (Andres).
Deutsche Grammophon 423 587-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Weigle/Hawlata/Denoke (Opus Arte OA 0985 D)
From a production at the Gran Theatre del Liceu, Barcelona, in 2006.
Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, Chorus of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, conducted by Sebastian Weigle, 2006.
Cast: Franz Hawlata (Wozzeck), Angela Denoke (Marie), Hubert Delamboye (Captain), Johann Tilli (Doctor), David Kuebler (Andres).
Opus Arte OA 0985 D