Composer: Alban Berg
Performer: Theo Adam, Gisela Schroter, Reiner Goldberg, Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Orchestra: Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig
Conductor: Herbert Kegel
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Berlin Classics
Release: 1976
Size: 405 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Act I
01. Scene 1: Zimmer des Hauptmanns: Langsam, Wozzeck, langsam!
02. Scene 1: Transformation music.
03. Scene 2: Freies Feld, die Stadt in der Ferne Wozzeck und Andres schneiden Weid.
04. Scene 2: Transformation music.
05. Scene 3: Mariens Stube: Tschin Bum, Tschin, Bum
06. Scene 3: Transformation music.
07. Scene 4: Studierstube des Doktors: Was erleb’ich Wozzeck?
08. Scene 4: Transformation music.
09. Scene 5: Strasse vor Mariens Tur: Geh einmal vor Dich hin!
Act II
10. Scene 1: Mariens Stube: Was die Steine glanzen?
11. Scene 1: Transformation music.
CD 02
Act II
01. Scene 2: Strasse: Wohin so eilig
02. Scene 2: Transformation music.
03. Scene 3: Gasse vor Mariens Wohnungstur: Guten tag, Franz
04. Scene 3: Transformation music.
05. Scene 4: Wirthausgarten: Ich hab’ ein Hemdlein an
06. Scene 4: Transformation music.
07. Scene 5: Wachstube in der Kaserne: Oh-oh-Andres! Ich kann nicht schlafen
Act III
08. Scene 1: Mariens Stube: Sie liest in der Bibel
09. Scene 1: Transformation music.
10. Scene 2: Waldweg am Teich: Dort links geht’s in die Stadt
11. Scene 2: Transformation music.
12. Scene 3: Schenke: Tanzt Alle
13. Scene 3: Transformation music.
14. Scene 4: Waldweg am Teich: Das Meser?
15. Scene 4: Transformation music.
16. Scene 5: Vor Mariens Haustur
This performance of Wozzeck, with Herbert Kegel leading the Leipzig Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester, is notable for the delicacy of the orchestral textures; the conductor emphasizes the chamber music qualities of the score and details emerge with clarity, but the orchestra provides plenty of power at the places where the music requires it. Overall, though, Kegel’s interpretation lacks the lyric sweep to make the inexorable wave of circumstances truly overwhelming.
Theo Adam is strong in the title role, but his progression from downtrodden passivity to uncontrollable passion and madness is somewhat underplayed. The other roles are effectively characterized, for the most part. What the singers may lack in sheer vocal beauty they make up for in dramatic conviction. That’s true of Gisela Schröter as Marie; her voice is less than vibrant in her lower register, but she conveys Marie’s despair and destitution convincingly, and her interaction with Margaret (Gisela Pohl) in the second scene is ferociously catty. Horst Heistermann and Konrad Rupf are standouts for their over-the-top portrayals of the Captain and the Doctor, and they make the strongest impressions of anyone in the cast. The sound of the live 1973 concert performance slightly favors the voices over the orchestra, but is generally clean.