Wozzeck (Jan. 19, 1985)

Composer: Alban Berg
Librettist: Alban Berg

Levine; Behrens, Ulfung, Cassilly, Boesch

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 34 min.

James Levine, a longtime champion of this groundbreaking work, has conducted every Met performance of Wozzeck since 1974. He brings Berg’s revolutionary score to dramatic life in this broadcast, leading an extraordinary cast headed by Christian Boesch and Hildegard Behrens. Boesch gives a heartbreaking performance as the poor, abused soldier of the title, and Behrens is stunning as his faithless and conflicted wife, Marie. Richard Cassilly sings the vain Drum Major who seduces her, and Ragnar Ulfung and Franz Mazura are the Captain and the Doctor, who mock and torture Wozzeck.