From October 17 to 26, 2025, the stage of Teatro La Fenice will host a new production of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, with surtitles in Italian and English. This opera, one of the most powerful works of the 20th century, combines Berg’s libretto—drawn faithfully from Georg Büchner’s unfinished drama Woyzeck—with a score that merges raw human tragedy with extraordinary musical innovation.
Structured in three acts of five scenes each, Wozzeck captures the fragmented, visionary power of Büchner’s text. Berg amplifies its expressionistic intensity, employing voices and instruments in a way that dissolves traditional tonality without abandoning lyricism. The result is a sound world of extreme tension and haunting beauty, where Mahler’s legacy meets the irrepressible spirit of modernity.
The opera’s Italian history is just as bold: it was November 3, 1942, when Wozzeck was first staged in Rome, amidst war and political risk, under the baton of Tullio Serafin with Tito Gobbi and Gabriella Gatti in the leading roles. Today, La Fenice renews that pioneering spirit with this remarkable new staging.
The Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro La Fenice, joined by the Piccoli Cantori Veneziani, will perform under the baton of Markus Stenz, with Alfonso Caiani as chorus master and stage direction by Valentino Villa.
The cast includes Roberto de Candia (Wozzeck), Lidia Fridman (Marie), Enea Scala (Tambour Major), Omar Montanari (Doktor), and Manuela Custer (Margret), alongside a distinguished ensemble of soloists.
Wozzeck at La Fenice promises to be a shattering and unforgettable journey into one of opera’s most radical masterpieces.
Website: www.teatrolafenice.it
Location: La Fenice Opera House, Venice
Schedule: October 17 – 26, 2025
