Some help please: Wozzeck in Paris

[Novi]

Hello Opera People.

I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on this production of Wozzeck at the Opéra Bastille. It's one of my favourite operas, but not being all that familiar with the genre nor the performers, I have no idea whether this one is promising at all:

Hartmut Haenchen   Conductor
Christoph Marthaler   Stage Director
Joachim Rathke   Co-stage director
Anna Viebrock   Sets and costumes
Olaf Winter   Lighting
Thomas Stache   Movement Advisor
Malte Ubenauf   Dramaturgy
Alessandro Di Stefano   Chorus Master

Vincent Le Texier Wozzeck
Stefan Margita Drum Major
Xavier Moreno Andres
Andreas Conrad Hauptmann
Kurt Rydl Doktor
Scott Wilde Erster Handwerksbursch
Igor Gnidii Zweiter Handwerksbursch
François Piolino Der Narr
Waltraud Meier Marie
Ursula Hesse Von Den Steinen Margret

Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine ⁄ Paris Opera children's Chorus

Thanks very much - I appreciate your opinions.

[Drasko]

http://npw-opera-concerts.blogspot.com/search?q=wozzeck

The cast is mostly different but I think it's the same production. Nigel Wilkinson's taste in opera is usually impeccable.

[Novi]

http://npw-opera-concerts.blogspot.com/search?q=wozzeck

The cast is mostly different but I think it's the same production. Nigel Wilkinson's taste in opera is usually impeccable.

Thanks, Drasko - I remember reading Nigel's reviews on here.

[bhodges]

l've read other excellent reports on this production, although I'm not familiar with most of the cast.  But Waltraud Meier as Marie, wow!  Do report back if you go. 

--Bruce

[Wendell_E]

The OP probably already knows, but there's a video of part of Act I, scene v, at the ONP website: http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/live/onp/Saison_2009_2010/decouvrir/index.php?lang=fr&CNSACTION=SELECT_CONTENT&content_id=Wozzeck&content_type=video&event_id=405&selected_season=354663924

It's not with the current cast, but the original one, with Keelyside as Wozzeck and Jon Villars as the Drum Major.  I'd prefer a more traditional production, but I'd jump at the chance to see the opera in any case.

[Novi]

l've read other excellent reports on this production, although I'm not familiar with most of the cast.  But Waltraud Meier as Marie, wow!  Do report back if you go. 

--Bruce

The OP probably already knows, but there's a video of part of Act I, scene v, at the ONP website: http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/live/onp/Saison_2009_2010/decouvrir/index.php?lang=fr&CNSACTION=SELECT_CONTENT&content_id=Wozzeck&content_type=video&event_id=405&selected_season=354663924

It's not with the current cast, but the original one, with Keelyside as Wozzeck and Jon Villars as the Drum Major.  I'd prefer a more traditional production, but I'd jump at the chance to see the opera in any case.

Thanks for the link, Wendell_E. Unfortunately, OP has had and still has rather patchy internet and can't watch clips or anything like that at the moment. But I'm with you there - I'm just excited about seeing it. Having said that though, I notice that there seem to be a few Wozzecks around, in the UK anyway: the Salonen/Philharmonia concert performance (with Keenlyside) and a Welsh Opera production later this year. In fact, that probably constitutes a deluge of Wozzecks. Wish I could make all of them!

Bruce, the tickets are purchased and I'll report back afterwards.

[Wendell_E]

I notice that there seem to be a few Wozzecks around, in the UK anyway: the Salonen/Philharmonia concert performance (with Keenlyside) and a Welsh Opera production later this year. In fact, that probably constitutes a deluge of Wozzecks. Wish I could make all of them!

Lucky UK.  There aren't any coming up in North America, at least according to operabase.  But the Met's supposed to be reviving it in 2010-11, with Matthias Goerne and Katarina Dalayman.  Maybe I can make it up there for a performance.

Thanks for the link, Wendell_E. Unfortunately, OP has had and still has rather patchy internet and can't watch clips or anything like that at the moment.

Well, the drum major has a mohawk and wears blue jeans and t-shirt with "DADDY" on it, and all those sleeping, snoring soldiers are sitting up wide awake at the tables in the cafeteria which, according to Nigel's review, is the setting for the entire opera.