Happy 100th birthday, Wozzeck! Thielemann leads Berlin revival

Sir Simon Keenlyside (Wozzeck) and Stephan Milling (Doctor)

Anja Kampe (Marie)

Andreas Schager (Drum Major) and Sir Simon Keenlyside (Wozzeck)

Wozzeck

By Elena Luporini, 16 December 2025

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“in Wozzeck, music is at once an emanation of the characters and in dialogue with them”

Reviewed at Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin on 14 December 2025

Berg, Wozzeck

Staatsoper Berlin

Christian Thielemann, Conductor

Andrea Breth, Director

Martin Zehetgruber, Set Designer

Silke Willrett, Costume Designer

Olaf Freese, Lighting Designer

Staatskapelle Berlin

Staatsopernchor Berlin

Marc Weeger, Costume Designer

Sir Simon Keenlyside, Wozzeck

Anja Kampe, Marie

Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke, Captain

Stephen Milling, Doctor

Andreas Schager, Drum major

Florian Hoffmann, Andres

Anna Kissjudit, Margret

Friedrich Hamel, First Apprentice

Dionysios Avgerinos, Second Apprentice

Stephan Rügamer, Madman

Eyes wide shut for Berlin’s new Ballo

Mark Pullinger, 29th March

At the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Rafael R Villalobos addresses the problems he perceives with Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, although the musical performances – led by Anna Netrebko – compensate.

***11

Young stars shine in the Staatsoper Berlin’s Rosenkavalier

Mark Pullinger, 28th March

Patricia Nolz makes an outstanding role debut as Christian Thielemann conducts a thrusting Rosenkavalier to open the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's Festtage.

*****

Love is in the hare: a new Cunning Little Vixen opens in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 28th February

The Staatsoper's new production of Janáček's opera buzzes with life thanks to Sir Simon Rattle's conducting and an excellent cast led by Vera-Lotte Boecker and Magdalena Kožená.

****1

Pintscher’s Das kalte Herz premieres at Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Elena Luporini, 14th January

On a snowy January evening, the premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s new opera Das kalte Herz fails to warm up the Berlin public.

**111

Low on laughs: Die schweigsame Frau in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 19th July

Newly General Music Director Christian Thielemann and Jan Philipp Gloger bring Richard Strauss' Die schweigsame Frau to the Staatsoper Berlin for the first time, but la commedia is hardly stupenda.

**111

A Norma cooking on medium at Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Elena Luporini, 13th April

Despite excellent performances from Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Elmina Hasan, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's new production of Norma lacks a pinch of salt.

***11

More reviews...

Elena Luporini

After completing their Master's degree in Musicology in Rome, Elena has now moved to Berlin to dedicate themselves to more things musical. With a publication on Béla Bartók and a seminar at the Humboldt-Universität underway, their interests mostly veer toward 20th-century opera, with some forays into queer musicology. Some of their latest undertakings also include oboe lessons, stencil-making and tea-making.

Happy 100th birthday, Wozzeck! Thielemann conducts Staatsoper Berlin revival