Alban Berg: Wozzeck

About This Movie

So, this 2012 rendition of Alban Berg's Wozzeck is interesting, to say the least. Conducted by Teodor Currentzis, the Bolshoi Opera's first go at it really captures a certain gravity. The staging by Dmitri Cherniakov is striking, it feels like he’s trying to peel back the layers of despair in a modern man's life, set against a big city backdrop. You can’t help but feel the tension in the atmosphere, almost suffocating at times. The performances are raw, almost visceral, bringing out the stark emotional landscape that Berg was aiming for. There’s a unique pacing to it, not overly fast but keeping you engaged, layered with the haunting music that lingers in your mind long after it ends.

First Bolshoi Opera production of WozzeckDmitri Cherniakov's distinctive stagingTeodor Currentzis' compelling conducting