The Greek National Opera is set to open  a new production of “Wozzeck” on Jan 19, 2020.

Directed by Oliver Py for the first time in his career and conducted by Vassilis Christopoulos, the famed opera by Alban Berg will kick off the company’s 2020 season. Greek baritone Tassis Christoyannis will star in the title role with Nadine Lehner as Marie in her GNO debut.  Margarita Syngeniotou will appear as Margret amd Vassilis Kavayas will play Andres with Peter Wedd and Peter Hoare as the drum Major and Captain. Finally, Yanni Yannissis will be the Doctor.

“I visualize a political but also metaphysical Wozzeck,” Py said in a press release of his approach to this famed masterwork. “It is a work which – I’d dare say- looks like an ancient Greek tragedy, except it is not about a king, but speaks of a simple man who becomes an unhappy hero. Berg gave Buchner’s play – a play most notably political- a metaphysical dimension – turning Wozzeck into a kind of modern Christ.”

The opera will run between Jan. 19 – Feb. 2, 2020.