Berg - Wozzeck

On Tuesday I attended a sparsely attended performance of Berg's Wozzeck at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. It's a production that has been running for years. Naxos recorded it, with another cast and conductor, in 2001. Now it was Andreas Stoehr in the pit. Gabriel Suovanen sang the title role and Sara Olsson was Marie. Despite the rather dated concept, I found it a satisfying performance with strong voices and a refined orchestral contribution. Stoehr, a baroque specialist, projected the score in a very lyrical and transparant way. One hardly noticed that the music is atonal and supposed to be difficult. I didn't get that last ounce of atmosphere out of this performance, however. Maybe it was the rather empty hall, the severe ambiente of the Stockholm opera building or simply the fact of being preoccupied after a long day of work. I'm planning to return to Berg and the Second Viennese School once I am through with Bartok.