Opera Scotland

Wozzeck 2014BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO)

Read more about the opera Wozzeck

Berg's Wozzeck is undoubtedly one of the great operas of the twentieth century. Unfortunately its appearances in Scotland have been shockingly infrequent. It is over thirty years since the last run of David Alden's gripping staging for Scottish Opera. That was conducted by a youthful Simon Rattle, and the first run had offered an excellent example of Alexander Gibson's work.

Donald Runnicles chose to present the piece without an interval, as was done then, and he generated a superb sense of momentum and tension as the opera hurtled towards its tragic ending. The cast was excellent - unfamiliar singers with strong reputations were joined by sadly infrequent visitors in the excellent Tom Randle and Jennifer Johnston.

This wias a semi-staged performance sung in German with English supertitles. 

Thomas J. Mayer stepped in at short notice as a replacement for the indisposed Roman Trekel.