Wozzeck

Last night we heard Berg's opera "Wozzeck" in a concert performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting.  It was yet another astonishing rendition from this ensemble, and a truly memorable performance.  Berg's opera emerged as truly expressionist in this performance; a virtual nightmare from beginning to end that left us exhausted.  Though it was a concert performance, all the singers sang from memory and acted their roles convincingly, even dressed in their concert attire.   Because this is  a "symphonic opera", the increased presence of an on stage orchestra made it even more symphonic.  The famous crescendo on the note "B" was about the loudest thing I have ever heard from an orchestra.  I did miss some of the effects of a staged version; for instance, the "snoring" chorus strikes you unexpectedly when you are not in the visual realm of a darkened barracks.  And Berg's onstage orchestra effects were meaningless in this context.

Some pictures:

(From Lincoln Center, I didn't take them)

Another thing that struck me in this performance is the extent to which Berg uses so many traditional elements in this opera;  ranging from folk songs and marches to fugues. All these are transformed through his expressionist vision, but remain a musically grounding focus during what is an hour and a half of extremely dense and nightmarish music.    I remain in awe of how Berg was ever able to create and realize this vision.

After 5 concerts in 7 days, I am ready for a break!