Wozzeck: Wretches Like Us

‘Wretches like us – we’ll always be cursed, in this world and the next.’

Poor Wozzeck is at the bottom of the heap – an underdog made for kicking, and an easy target for the powerful, the cynical and the cruel. Alban Berg’s devastating opera tells the story of a man pushed to breaking point, in some of the most searching – and searing – music of the 20th century.

Film-maker and video artist Ilya Shagalov reads Berg’s opera through the lens of the fragile migrant body – a body that works, cares, obeys and breaks.

Wozzeck is a story about a man crushed by forces larger than himself. In the UK today, this figure is instantly recognisable: the invisible worker whose life is shaped by the pressure to survive.

Wozzeck is one of those operas that simply has to be experienced live, and this one-off concert staging, with Edward Gardner conducting a cast of world-class dramatic singers, should leave you reeling.

Ilya Shagalov is an acclaimed video designer and multimedia artist known for his innovative approach to visual storytelling. With a career spanning over a decade, Shagalov has collaborated with leading directors, musicians and performance companies across the globe. His work seamlessly blends technology and human emotion, often exploring themes of memory, identity and resilience.

Nina Guseva is visual co-creator alongside Shagalov.

Commissioned by the Southbank Centre and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Concert supported by a syndicate of donors.

Performers

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Edward Gardner conductor

Stéphane Degout baritone, Wozzeck

Annette Dasch soprano, Marie

Peter Hoare tenor, Captain

Brindley Sherratt bass, Doctor

Christopher Ventris tenor, Drum Major

Eirik Grøtvedt tenor, Andres

Kitty Whately contralto, Margret

Adrian Thompson tenor, The Fool

Callum Thorpe bass, 1st Apprentice

Dominic Sedgwick baritone, 2nd Apprentice

London Voices

Tiffin Boys' Choir

Repertoire

Berg: Wozzeck - opera in 3 acts (semi-staged performance in German with English surtitles)

Need to know

Age guidance

For ages 15+ only.

Content warnings

Contains some scenes involving nudity, scenes of an adult nature and scenes that some viewers may find disturbing. Content warning: violence and domestic violence.

Event information

This performance features haze, and the film projected during the event contains strobe and flashing lights.

Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme

For your visit

This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre

The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.

Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.

A concrete building with flags on the roof, with the London Eye and Big Ben in the background

A lively crowd cheers with raised hands, while a performer in a white hat and suit plays guitar, against red lighting.

A guitarist performing on a dark stage at the Royal Festival Hall, lit up by multiple spotlights.

Pianis Víkingur Ólafsson is seated at a grand piano while playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations on the stage of Royal Festival Hall

Organist Carol Williams plays the Royal Festival Hall organ whiich is illumiated with bold colours

The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.

Getting here

Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.

The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.

We’re cash-free

Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.

We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.

All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.

All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.

On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.

From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.

Other places to eat and drink whilst you’re here