Alban Berg Opera Wozzeck
Plot Synopsis and Character Description of a German Musical Drama
Jul 11, 2009
Austrian composer Alban Berg (February 9, 1885 – December 24, 1935) composed Wozzeck, a three-act in 15 scenes German Sprechstimme music drama, libretto by Berg and Georg Büchner, and based on Büchner's play. It was premiered at the Staatsoper, Berlin, December 14, 1925. The setting is a small garrison town in Germany about 1835.
Alban Berg's Wozzeck is his first opera, performed 12 years ahead of Lulu. The world is seen through the eyes of half-mad Wozzeck. The opera is composed with extensive use of musical forms mainly symphony and passacaglia. The music is mostly atonal but with some passages in rich post-Wagnerian romantic style, as the orchestra interludes between scenes.
Main Character Roles of Wozzeck
- Wozzeck, Soldier (Baritone)
- Andres, Soldier (Lyric Tenor)
- The Captain (Tenor)
- The Drum Major (Tenor)
- The Doctor (Bass)
- Two Apprentices (Bass and baritone)
- An Idiot (Tenor)
- Marie, Wozzeck's mistress (Soprano)
- Margret, Marie's neighbour (Contralto)
Plot Synopsis of Wozzeck
Act I. In Five Scenes, from the Captain's Room to Street near Marie's House
Scene 1. The Captain's Room
While the captain is being shaved by Wozzeck, he chides Wozzeck for being immoral for having a child out of wedlock. Wozzeck justifies that it is hard for the poor to be virtuous.
Scene 2. Open Field outside the Town
Andres and Wozzeck are working as they gather sticks in the fields.
Scene 3. Marie's Room
A military band passes Marie's window and she and the drum major wave to each other. When Margret calls her a woman of ill-repute, Marie slams the door in her face and sings to her child, whose father is Wozzeck. Although Wozzeck visits, his mind is full of things that he hardly takes interest in his illegitimate son.
Scene 4. Doctor's Study
The company doctor pays Wozzeck to participate in bizarre medical dietetics experiments. He needs the extra money to support Marie and their child.
Scene 5. Street Before Marie's Door
It was twilight and the drum major is showing off talking about his appearance on Sunday parades and embraces her. At first she resists, but soon gives in and disappears with him into her room.
Act II. In Five Scenes, from Marie's Room to the Barracks
Scene 1. Marie's Room
Marie is playing with her new earrings and trying to get the child to go to sleep when Wozzeck surprises her. He sees the earrings and she makes up excuses but still gives her money earned from the Captain and the Doctor. When he leaves, Marie feels guilty.
Scene 2. Street in Town
The captain stops the doctor on the street but is horrified by some of the doctor's morbid diagnoses. Seeing Wozzeck, the two men drop innuendoes about Marie's unfaithfulness.
Scene 3. Street before Marie's Door.
Wozzeck confronts Marie of her infidelity.
Scene 4. Tavern Garden
Late in the evening, Wozzeck sees Marie dancing with the drum major in the inn. Among others, two drunken apprentices were also in the tavern. Wozzeck is approached by an idiot, who smells "blood" forthcoming.
Scene 5. Guardroom in the Barracks at Night
The drum major returns to the barracks drunk and brags about his fling with Marie. He urges Wozzeck to drink but he refuses. They fight and the major knocks him down.
Act III. In Five Scenes, starts from Marie's Room and Ends ThereScenes 1. Marie's Room
Marie reads the Bible and prays for mercy.
Scene 2. Forest Path by a Pool
Wozzeck takes Marie into the woods where he kisses her and them kills her with his knife.
Scene 3. A Low Tavern
He gets drunk in the tavern and flirts with Margret, who sees the blood on his hand.
Scene 4. Forest Path by a Pool
Wozzeck returns to the murder scene to collect the knife and plans to throw it in the lake. Afraid that he has not hidden it well enough, he wades to the lake and drowns. Hearing him drowning, the doctor and captain come to the scene, and hurry away without lifting a finger.
Scene 5. Street before Marie's Door
A group of children go off to see Marie's corpse. Her son, who has been riding his hobby horse, rides off after them, too young to understand the implication of his mother's death.
Sources:
Martin, Nicholas Ivor. The Da Capo Opera Manual, New York: Da Capo, 1997
Morley, Sir Alexander F. The Harrap Opera Guide. London: Harrap, 1970
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