Wozzeck (ROH)

[french frank]

Simon Keenlyside as Wozzeck, with Karita Mattila and John Tomlinson. Royal Opera House, 31 Oct, 5,8,12,15 November.



Great image!

[amateur51]

You going, ff?

[french frank]

You going, ff?

Love to, but I doubt it. I just got their email about it. I've seen the WNO production twice (baked beans and all!). It would be good to see an alternative version.

[gurnemanz]

We saw this very good production in 2002 with Matthias Goerne as Wozzeck and Katarina Dalayman as Marie. Hard to believe it was that long ago. The imagery has remained vivid. The "blutig Eisen" moon + water shown on the picture is done in a very different and quite striking way.

[slarty]

Does anyone know if it will be broadcast?

[aeolium]

Does anyone know if it will be broadcast?

On R3 December 2.

[VodkaDilc]

Love to, but I doubt it. I just got their email about it. I've seen the WNO production twice (baked beans and all!). It would be good to see an alternative version.

Those were my thoughts too when the email arrived. Despite the quirky production, the WNO version was excellent.

Having read yesterday's Guardian review of Turandot at the ROH, that's the one I'd like to go to - if I could make the effort to go to London.

[amateur51]

On R3 December 2.

Many thanks aeolium

[slarty]

On R3 December 2.

Thanks Aolium.

[DublinJimbo]

I was fortunate enough to experience a concert performance with Dietrich Henschel in Berlin (in 2002 as far as I remember). It was a shattering evening. With only the minimal suggestion of staging, he transported the audience that night to a time and place far removed from our day-to-day existence. I firmly believe that Berg will be the only composer of the second Viennese school whose work will be remembered and treasured a hundred years from now, and that opinion was borne out that night by a masterly performance I'll never forget. An opportunity to see Wozzeck on stage would be tempting indeed, but it would need to be really special to eclipse that night in the Berlin Konzerthaus.

[Belgrove]

Like Gurnemanz, I too saw Matthias Goerne in this in 2002. It was conducted by Pappano and was a shattering experience. The production is expressionist in tone and visually influenced by Damien Hirst, but don't less this put you off - the imagery is entirely appropriate, sometimes visually gorgeous, sometimes horribly ugly, the action sometimes appallingly brutal. It convincingly solves the problems posed by the fragmented and swiftly changing narrative. The orchestra was incandescent. The audience was stunned into silence at the close.

Keenlyside has been singing this role at various places throughout the year. This is a very physical production and entirely suited to this excellent performer.

I'm looking forward to seeing this again in November, and would recommend it without hesitation. It is a night in the theatre that you will not forget.

[duncan]

I'm seeing this on Tuesday and very much looking forward to it.

I also have two tickets for Friday the 15th in the upper slips, seats, which I can't now use. These are the princely sum of £4 so not really worth trying to return to the ROH. If anyone is interested you can have them for free. I suggest a small charitable donation. Private Message via my profile.

[Frances_iom]

It is a night in the theatre that you will not forget.

It is possibily the only opera I don't wish to see again based on its raw emotive power - I saw the ROH production 1st time around - a truely cathartic experience

[Dave2002]

It is possibily the only opera I don't wish to see again based on its raw emotive power - I saw the ROH production 1st time around - a truely cathartic experience

I probably don't like the music much, but I was stunned by the ROH production a few years ago. Maybe much better than the sum of its parts. Definitely well worth seeing.

[underthecountertenor]

Dave2002: if you go again, you may find yourself liking the music more. It worked for me! Terrific production, brilliantly revived, fabulously cast in depth and stunningly played under Elder. Another highlight (after Elektra and, though more variably, Vepres) of the ROH season so far. With a new Parsifal to come before Christmas as well, I think they're on a bit of a roll (unlike ENO).