When the Captain chides Wozzeck for acting immorally by fathering an illegitimate child, the responding vocal line and its delivery changes. Yet this acquiescence soon shifts to reveal an underlying resentful tension. Konieczny’s Wozzeck proceeds to shave the Captain while responding in steady, deep tones of respect, “Jawohl, Herr Hauptmann.”. As the curtain is withdrawn to reveal the first scene with a focus on Wozzeck and his Captain, Siegel cries out with high pitches on the “Ewigkeit” which he fears will intrude on his mundane existence. Scenic divisions within each of the three acts are ingeniously marked by a white half-curtain, manipulated to open or close rapidly from behind by stage hands. This image bears directly on Wozzeck’s lowly position within the military and also reflects McVicar’s dating of the action during a period showing the effects of the First World War.

An outstretched arm protrudes here from a prostrate figure, just as a sword and helmet are perched atop.

Michael Black has prepared the Chorus and Josephine Lee the Children’s Chorus.īefore the start of the first scene a raised platform bearing the memorial likeness of a soldier is visible above the central back part of the stage. Vicki Mortimer and Paule Constable are the Set and Costume as well as the Lighting Designers in this new production. Siegel, Vinke, Carlson, and Ryan are singing in their house debuts.

The roles of the apprentices are taken by Bradley Smoak and Anthony Clark Evans, a Soldier by Alec Carlson, and the Fool by Brenton Ryan. Andres, friend of Wozzeck, and Margret, the neighbor of Marie, are portrayed by David Portillo and Jill Grove Stefan Vinke is cast as the Drum Major. Gerhard Siegel and Brindley Sherratt sing the Captain and the Doctor, roles of authority in Wozzeck’s tormented life. The roles of Wozzeck and Marie are performed by Tomasz Konieczny and Angela Denoke, both making significant debuts in this house. Just such an effort is part of the current season at Lyric Opera of Chicago as led by its music director Sir Andrew Davis and in a production designed by Sir David McVicar.

Wozzeck lyric opera chicago