Berg’s Psychological Thriller WOZZECK Comes to Life in the Perelman Theater 02-27-2009 Tony Award®-winning Broadway star and Curtis Institute alumnus Shuler Hensley stars as Wozzeck. In March 2008 audiences packed into the Perelman Theater for a groundbreaking new initiative between Curtis Opera Theatre, Kimmel Center Presents and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Curtis Opera Theatre’s Philadelphia premiere of Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar left audiences breathless, paving the way for an equally mesmerizing operatic collaboration in 2009. For the second year of this partnership, Alban Berg’s powerfully emotional thrill ride Wozzeck returns to Philadelphia in its first fully-staged performance since its American premiere here in 1931. Austrian-born Alban Berg was a student of the innovative and groundbreaking composer Arnold Schoenberg, who was instrumental in his musical development. Schoenberg gave Berg the tools to express his artistic personality without being held back by the traditional constraints of Western music. It was in 1914, while Berg was on leave from his three-year service in the Austrian Army, that he attended a revised performance of Georg Büchner’s play Woyzeck and immediately set to work creating an opera based on the story. He wrote the opera’s libretto himself, completing a first draft and some musical sketches before setting it aside for several years to complete an orchestral work as well as his military service. But even after picking the piece up again in 1917 the opera’s progress was very slow. Wozzeck finally had its premiere on December 14, 1925 in Berlin and has become one of the few post-tonal operas to have reached critical acclaim and achieved a substantial following. Tenor Jason Collins (Curtis class of '03) returns as the Drum Major. Wozzeck is the emotionally-charged story of a German soldier who is ridiculed by everyone, victimized by his sadistic Captain, and subjected to unorthodox experiments by the regiment’s doctor. The only joy in his life is his mistress Marie, with whom he has a son, but when she too betrays him with the arrogant Drum Major, it is more than Wozzeck can take. Driven mad, he stabs Marie and then, while searching for the lost knife, wanders into a pond and drowns. Taking on the tragic leading role is Shuler Hensley, whose arrival in Philadelphia will mark a return to his vocal roots. The critically acclaimed stage, film, and television actor, who has won numerous awards including a 2002 Tony Award® for his portrayal of Jud in Oklahoma! and several recent award nominations for his work in Young Frankenstein, is an alumnus of the Curtis Institute of Music and returns to perform the title role alongside the current rising stars of the Curtis Opera Theatre. Opera Company of Philadelphia Music Director Corrado Rovaris leads the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in this new production directed by Emma Griffin and designed by David Zinn. Don’t miss this heart-pounding masterpiece’s first performance in Philadelphia in almost 80 years! In three performances only, see Wozzeck March 13, 15, and 18 at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. Opera Company of Philadelphia subscribers may purchase Wozzeck tickets at a discounted price by calling 215-732-8400 or by clicking here. Non-subscribers, buy your tickets now by calling 215-893-1018 or clicking here. Click Here to Read A Chat Between Wozzeck Director Emma Griffin and Curtis Institute of Music Director of Publications Laura C. Kelley. Click here for information on Wozzeck community outreach programs. Buy Wozzeck Tickets Now!
Tony Award®-winning Broadway star and Curtis Institute alumnus Shuler Hensley stars as Wozzeck.
In March 2008 audiences packed into the Perelman Theater for a groundbreaking new initiative between Curtis Opera Theatre, Kimmel Center Presents and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Curtis Opera Theatre’s Philadelphia premiere of Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar left audiences breathless, paving the way for an equally mesmerizing operatic collaboration in 2009. For the second year of this partnership, Alban Berg’s powerfully emotional thrill ride Wozzeck returns to Philadelphia in its first fully-staged performance since its American premiere here in 1931.
Austrian-born Alban Berg was a student of the innovative and groundbreaking composer Arnold Schoenberg, who was instrumental in his musical development. Schoenberg gave Berg the tools to express his artistic personality without being held back by the traditional constraints of Western music. It was in 1914, while Berg was on leave from his three-year service in the Austrian Army, that he attended a revised performance of Georg Büchner’s play Woyzeck and immediately set to work creating an opera based on the story. He wrote the opera’s libretto himself, completing a first draft and some musical sketches before setting it aside for several years to complete an orchestral work as well as his military service. But even after picking the piece up again in 1917 the opera’s progress was very slow. Wozzeck finally had its premiere on December 14, 1925 in Berlin and has become one of the few post-tonal operas to have reached critical acclaim and achieved a substantial following.
Tenor Jason Collins (Curtis class of '03) returns as the Drum Major.
Wozzeck is the emotionally-charged story of a German soldier who is ridiculed by everyone, victimized by his sadistic Captain, and subjected to unorthodox experiments by the regiment’s doctor. The only joy in his life is his mistress Marie, with whom he has a son, but when she too betrays him with the arrogant Drum Major, it is more than Wozzeck can take. Driven mad, he stabs Marie and then, while searching for the lost knife, wanders into a pond and drowns.
Taking on the tragic leading role is Shuler Hensley, whose arrival in Philadelphia will mark a return to his vocal roots. The critically acclaimed stage, film, and television actor, who has won numerous awards including a 2002 Tony Award® for his portrayal of Jud in Oklahoma! and several recent award nominations for his work in Young Frankenstein, is an alumnus of the Curtis Institute of Music and returns to perform the title role alongside the current rising stars of the Curtis Opera Theatre. Opera Company of Philadelphia Music Director Corrado Rovaris leads the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in this new production directed by Emma Griffin and designed by David Zinn.
Don’t miss this heart-pounding masterpiece’s first performance in Philadelphia in almost 80 years! In three performances only, see Wozzeck March 13, 15, and 18 at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. Opera Company of Philadelphia subscribers may purchase Wozzeck tickets at a discounted price by calling 215-732-8400 or by clicking here. Non-subscribers, buy your tickets now by calling 215-893-1018 or clicking here.
Click Here to Read A Chat Between Wozzeck Director Emma Griffin and Curtis Institute of Music Director of Publications Laura C. Kelley.
Click here for information on Wozzeck community outreach programs.
Buy Wozzeck Tickets Now!
