LULU, AN EXHILARATING OPERA

Lulu, by Alban Berg, was composed over time from 1934 and premièred in 1937 while still incomplete. He adapted its libretto from two of Frank Wedekind's plays -"Pandora's Box," 1904 and "Earth Spirit," 1895.It is an opera about the decadence and myths of freedom. The opera was originally performed by the Opera in Zurich then again in 1949 at La Fenice conducted by Sanzogno, and in Essen in late 1953 directed by König. After Berg completed working on Wozzeck (his other opera), he then worked consistently on Lulu's score up until Manon Gropius passed away in 1935. It was at that time that Berg began to work on his Violin Concerto. Although he quickly completed his violin concerto, Berg had lost a lot of time and thus he was unable to finish Lulu before his death in 1935. 

HISTORY

In Lulu, a circus master introduces some of the many animals he has including Lulu herself, who is introduced as a snake, an animal tamed by human reasoning.

Act 1

Opening scene is in a painter's studio. A painter paints Lulu's portrait while a newspaper editor and a musician observe. The musician and editor then leave. Left alone with Lulu, he -the Painter - then tries to woo her; she rejects him at first then yields. Lulu's husband then unexpectedly arrives to find Lulu in the Painter's arms, and falls down dead from a heart attack. In the second scene, in Lulu's apartment, Lulu is now married to the Painter. She receives a letter announcing Schön's engagement which troubles Lulu. Alwa then appears with a message for the doctor: an uprising has erupted in Paris. They then hear groans from the bathroom and Alwa together with Schön decide to break down the door only to find the Painter with his throat cut. The police soon arrive as Lulu remarks to Dr. Schön that he will marry her. In the third Scene, in Lulu's dressing room, she is now a successful dancer and in the dressing room with Alwa. Lulu leaves Alwa to take the stage. Suddenly Lulu returns after having seen Schön and his fiancée in the audience. Schön then comes in trying to persuade her to go back on stage. Lulu compels Schön to break off his engagement then goes on to finish her show.

Act 2

Lulu is now married to Schön who is overly jealous of her admirers. Lulu tries to get Schön to go with her for a stroll, he refuses. Her admirers; Countess, an Acrobat and a Schoolboy all try to woo her. When Alwa arrives, they all hide. As Alwa and Lulu have lunch, he declares his love for her. Dr.Schön jumps out and throws Alwa from the room then begins arguing with Lulu. He hands Lulu a gun, but the Schoolboy leaps out and distracts Schön then Lulu shoots him. The police suddenly arrive and arrest her. She is tried, convicted, imprisoned, and deliberately contracts cholera. Countess Geschwitz visits Lulu and aids her in escaping. The Acrobat offers to marry Lulu and take her to Paris. When Lulu arrives looking pale and weak from the cholera, the Acrobat is disgusted and changes his mind. Lulu then seduces Alwa and they decide to go away together. 

Act 3

A grand party is happening in Lulu's luxurious villa in Paris. The Acrobat and the Marquis both try to blackmail Lulu. Schigolch then arrives asking for money and Lulu collapses in despair. Lulu later devises a plan to lure the Acrobat into to a hotel and kill him. After realizing the police have come for her, she then changes into waiter clothes and drags Alwa behind her. When the police arrive, Lulu has already escaped. In London, Lulu, Alwa, and Schigolch are now living in poverty, on the run, and Lulu is now a harlot. She arrives with a creepy-looking client.

But then the Countess also arrives with Lulu's portrait of Lulu. Alwa then contends with angry client and gets killed in the process. Lulu runs away hysterically and Schigolch disposes off the body. Lulu then comes with yet another client and they go into an adjoining room. Lulu is heard screaming offstage. Her client, Jack the Ripper, emerges and stabs the Countess as well. The Countess then declares her undying love for Lulu and dies.

MAIN ROLES

Lulu - Nuri Hadzic -soprano
Alwa, Dr Schön's son, a composer - Peter Baxevanos - tenor
Countess Geschwitz - Maria Bernhard - mezzo-soprano 
The painter, Lulu's second husband - Paul Feher - tenor
Dr Schön - Asger Stig - baritone