Photo Flash: Sir David McVicar's WOZZECK at Lyric Opera

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Alban Berg's Wozzeck in a searing new production that opens this Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the show!

Sir Andrew Davis conducts this harrowing masterpiece for the first time in his latest collaboration with director Sir David McVicar. Their most recent collaborations at Lyric include triumphant new productions of Rusalka and Elektra. Tomasz Konieczny (debut) is the downtrodden soldier, the opera's title character. Angela Denoke (debut) is Marie, with whom Wozzeck has a child out of wedlock. Gerhard Siegel (debut) is the Captain, Stefan Vinke (debut) is the Drum Major whose affair with Marie drives Wozzeck to murderous madness, Brindley Sherratt portrays the Doctor who pays Wozzeck to submit to bizarre medical experiments. David Portillo is Andres, a fellow soldier, and Jill Grove is Margret, Marie's neighbor. Vicki Mortimer designed sets and costumes for the new production, with lighting design by Paule Constable. Michael Black is chorus master and Andrew George is choreographer.

Sir Andrew has previously conducted virtually everything in Berg's oeuvre but this opera. "There's great variety in the Wozzeck score," he notes. "Some parts are angular, others haunting, with moments of relief that are supremely well timed. The last scene is unbelievably touching. This is one of the greatest operas of the 20th century."

Says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director, "Wozzeck has extraordinary immediacy and dramatic impact. Anyone who enjoys theater, anyone who enjoys film, shouldn't miss Wozzeck because it's utterly theatrical. It delivers an enormously powerful punch. Tomasz Konieczny is an electrifying bass-baritone, and Angela Denoke is an extraordinary dramatic soprano who has thrilled European audiences in this role. Their debuts here will be riveting."

Wozzeck is performed in German with projected English translations. The performance lasts 100 minutes without intermission.

For musical information, go to Wozzeck score.

A downloadable link to HD video footage will be available on Monday, November 2

For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org. Watch video and read articles about this production at lyricopera.org/wozzeck.

New Lyric Opera production of Wozzeck is generously made possible by The Monument Trust (UK) and Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson, with additional support from Robert L. Turner.

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