Photo Flash: First Look at Tomasz Konieczny, Angela Denoke, Gerhard Siegel & More in Lyric Opera of Chicago's WOZZECK

CHICAGO - Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Alban Berg's Wozzeck in a searing new production that opens this Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m.

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.

About Lyric

Founded in 1954, Lyric Opera of Chicago's mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of general director Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

Photo Credit: Cory Weaver