SYNOPSIS

Johann Franz Wozzeck‚ “thirty years and seven months old‚ militiaman and fusilier in the second regiment‚ second battalion‚ fourth company‚ uneducated‚ uncomprehending‚ ” is the regimental servant of the Captain of his outfit. To earn a little for the support of Marie and the child she has had by him‚ He has placed himself at the disposal of the Doctor‚ who laughs at him to his face but uses him for purposes of scientific experiment and demonstration to medical and psychology students.

CD 1

Act One

[1] Scene 1: Wozzeck is seen shaving his talkative Captain in the barracks. The Captain is speculating on the passage of time — now it is an eternity‚ he muses‚ now only a moment‚ and yet he reflects with a shudder that the earth turns on its axis once every twenty-four hours. To his superior’s meditations the orderly’s reply is a laconic “Jawohl‚ Herr Hauptmann! ” (“Yes‚ Captain! ”). The Captain is amused by his servant’s simplicity and tells Wozzeck that he has no morals. Wozzeck at length answers: “Herr Hauptmann‚ the good God will not ask my poor little brat whether the Amen was said over it before it was made. ” We poor people! Money‚ Money! What it is to have none! If I were a gentleman and had a watch and a hat and could speak properly I would be virtuous‚ all right‚ but our kind is unlucky in this world and the next. No doubt if we got to heaven we would have to lend a hand with the thunder! ” The Captain feels that Wozzeck is not a bad sort but that he “thinks too much‚ ” which is a mistake.

[2] Scene 2: In a field at sunset Wozzeck is seen with Andres‚ another soldier‚ who is cutting sticks. Wozzeck is haunted by a fear of the unknown and reflects on the uncanny nature of the place; he sees strange lights and imagines a head moving along the ground by night. The stolid Andres in reply sings a simple hunting song. But Wozzeck’s fancies grow wilder‚ he mumbles something about Freemasons‚ imagines the ground opening beneath his feet and‚ in the end‚ unnerves Andres by wildly imploring him to leave this haunted spot.

[3] Scene 3: Marie is shown in her room‚ playing with the child. A regiment passes under the window‚ a band led by the Drum Major at the head. He waves to Marie‚ who returns the greeting. Margret‚ a neighbor‚ comments maliciously on Marie's apparent interest in soldiers‚ till the two women fall to berating each other. Marie noisily slams her window‚ takes the child in her arms and sings it to sleep. She is soon aroused from her thoughts by a knock on the window. Wozzeck is outside and tells that he is due at the barracks and cannot come to her now. His confused talk worries her and she fears that something sinister impends. She holds out the child to him; he does not even look at it and leaves hurriedly. Marie puts the sleeping boy back into his crib‚ moans; “Ah‚ we poor people ” and — “I cannot much longer endure it. ”

[4] Scene 4: The Doctor’s study next day. The physician is busy with his unfeeling experiments‚ says that Wozzeck is a victim of mental aberrations and outlines a new schedule of nourishment for him‚ in conformity with the revolutionized science of dietetics. Wozzeck rebels at first‚ then grows more and more confused and incoherent. The Doctor warns that‚ with his fixed ideas‚ he is shaping for the madhouse; and‚ delighted with the poor fellow’s interesting case‚ rubs his hands and exclaims: “Oh my theory‚ my fame! I shall be immortal! immortal! immortal! ”

[5] Scene 5: A street in front of Marie’s house. At evening Marie stands admiring the Drum Major who proudly postures and assures her that he is handsomer still on Sunday parade‚ wearing his white gloves and his great plumes. Unspeakably pleased that he has even condescended to notice her‚ Marie flings herself into his arms and the two disappear into the house.

CD 2

Act Two

[1] Scene 1: Marie preens herself before her mirror. She is wearing earrings. Wozzeck enters and is at once surprised to see her instinctively put her hands to her cars. To his question where the earrings came from she replies that she found them. Despite his obvious suspicions he turns to the sleeping child‚ whose forehead is moist. “Wir arme Leut! ”‚ he laments: — nothing under the sun but work‚ and even in our sleep we sweat! ” He gives Marie his earnings and leaves her musing on her wickedness.

[2] Scene 2: The Captain and the Doctor meet in the street. The latter is in a hurry but the Captain detains him for a moment‚ whereupon the physician terrifies his friend by brutally calling his attention to his flushed‚ unhealthy appearance and warning him of a probable paralyzing‚ if not fatal‚ apoplexy. Wozzeck enters and the two torment him with their innuendos about Marie’s fidelity. When he frees himself from his tormentors‚ the Doctor looks after him with the reflection: “A phenomenon‚ this Wozzeck. ”

[3] Scene 3: Meeting Marie in front of her house Wozzeck talks confusedly about “sin ” and asks if “he ” stood there‚ where he stands now. Marie says that many come and go through the street and that she “cannot forbid it to anyone. ” Then she fears that Wozzeck is about to strike her. “Better a knife in me than a hand on me! ” she cries: “when I was ten years old my father did not dare that. ” She enters her house while Wozzeck murmurs to himself: “Better a knife! My head is swimming! ”

[4] Scene 4: A beer garden crowded with soldiers‚ many of them drunk. Suddenly Wozzeck catches sight of Marie dancing a waltz with the Drum Major; maddened by jealousy he is about to rush at them when the dance stops. Andres and others begin a lusty song‚ and someone begins a mock sermon. More dancing‚ then a Fool approaches the moody Wozzeck‚ says he “smells blood ” and starts Wozzeck’s wild fancies afresh.

[5] Scene 5: At night in the barracks. Wozzeck tosses restlessly on his cot. Snoring soldiers surround him‚ and his moaning awakens Andres. Visions of a knife flash before him. The Drum Major enters‚ tells of his conquests‚ makes insulting remarks and‚ suddenly turning upon Wozzeck‚ hurls himself upon him. Infuriated the latter fights back and is beaten bloody. The aroused soldiers‚ after a cynical remark or two‚ go back to sleep.

Act Three

[6] Scene 1: in her room Marie reads by candlelight the biblical story of Mary Magdalen and laments her own frailty. After turning to the child she takes up her Bible once more‚ then cries: “Savior‚ have pity on me as Thou hadst pity on her! ”

[7] Scene 2: A pond in the wood. Wozzeck appears with Marie. Although she wishes to return home he forces her to sit down and assures her “her feet will not hurt her much longer. ” It is growing dark. He reflects on how long they have known each other. Presently again madness overcomes him‚ The moon rises and Marie mentions its redness‚ which evokes in Wozzeck the idea of blood. He draws his knife‚ plunges it into her throat‚ stoops over her and exclaims “dead! ” Then he rushes away.

[8] Scene 3: At a tavern Wozzeck struggles desperately to forget his deed. He dances with Margret and for a moment even makes love to her. She sees blood on his hands and her shrieks attract the other dancers. After explaining irrationally that he has cut himself‚ he dashes out with the cry: “Am I a murderer? ”

[9] Scene 4: He comes back to the pond in search of the knife‚ afraid it may lead to his detection‚ He finds it and throws it into the pond The moon rises‚ Wozzeck wants to recover the blade and throw it farther into the pond. He walks into the water‚ loses his footing and drowns. The Doctor and the Captain appear on the scene‚ hear a groan‚ are unnerved and hurry away.

[10] Scene 5: In the street before Marie’s house the child is playing with other children. One of them shouts to him that his mother is dead. The youngsters rush off to see the body. Marie’s child does not understand‚ continues playing with his bobby horse‚ riding it faster and faster‚ with cries of “Hopp! Hopp! ” Then‚ after a moment‚ he too follows‚ still calling “Hopp! ”