Wozzeck

A new production of Wozzeck presented by Artistic Director Kazushi Ono who focuses on 20th-century opera. The only completed opera by Austrian composer Alban Berg of the Second Viennese School, Wozzeck is a stunning work conveying the emotional turmoil and downfall of a destitute soldier. Considered a monumental work of 20th-century opera, this popular work has been repeatedly performed worldwide. The original play, Woyzeck, was written, but never completed, by German playwright Georg Büchner (1813-1837) loosely based on records of psychiatric evaluations of Johann Woyzeck, the aggressor in a murder case that occurred in Leipzig in 1821. After seeing the play in Vienna in 1914, Berg reimagined the work as an opera but was then drawn into World War I as a soldier the following year. Composed between 1917 and 1921 after the completion of Berg's military duties, Wozzeck was also likely influenced by Berg's own experiences of daily hardships as a soldier. Berg utilizes a technique between song and speech called sprechgesang or sprechstimme. As the dramatic tension grows, a man unable to escape from poverty relays his story of falling into depression after learning of his wife's infidelity.

Charismatic British director Richard Jones is responsible for the production. The challenging role of Wozzeck, which demands advanced musical techniques, is performed by internationally renowned star Thomas Johannes Mayer who also appeared in the same role with the New National Theatre Tokyo in 2009. The role of Hauptmann is brought to life by Arnold Bezuyen, one of the world's greatest character tenors, while Tambourmajor is portrayed by John Daszak, who is particularly impressive in the role, and Marie is performed by Jennifer Davis, who is known for her incredible dramatic expression. This production is conducted by Artistic Director Kazushi Ono himself.