Coarse conducting and highly approximate singing have been so readily excused in ‘difficult’ idioms such as Wozzeck’s that they became almost expected‚ obscuring the music’s beauty and emotional intensity. Not so‚ in this welcome DVD appearance of an appropriately Viennese production long unavailable except on laserdisc (the audio­only version is available from DG‚ 2/89). Abbado recognises the late Romantic lyricism that unifies the score‚ but emphasises translucent textures rather than Teutonic density‚ while still unleashing Berg’s nascent Expressionist snarls with vividly theatrical force. The singers‚ too‚ treat the vocal line with greater respect than was once the norm‚ especially Grundheber’s memorable Wozzeck. Less rich than some‚ he makes more of the actual words; despite uneasy fascination with the Captain’s razor‚ he is also less obviously crushed and insane‚ maintaining a stolid dignity behind which his escalating disintegration becomes more shocking. Behrens sings Marie’s anguished‚ tender lines with intense beauty and keen characterisation‚ suggesting a sluttishness almost sanctified by her capacity for love. Zednik’s steely­toned‚ neurotic Captain becomes unusually sinister‚ a sort of hellish Laurel to the late Aage Haugland’s Hardy. His Doctor does take some old­fashioned liberties with his Sprechgesang‚ but to characterful effect – not a grotesque charlatan but a pompous‚ preening sadist‚ smoothly relishing Wozzeck’s humiliation. Raffeiner’s Drum Major radiates even more ogreish charisma‚ if not quite the ideally overbearing vocal power‚ and Langridge is a sympathetic Andres. Adolf Dresen‚ sometimes a dull producer‚ here creates a quite effective world whose derelict interiors and expansively desolate marshlands reflect its alienation of human feeling. Sliding sets keep the short scenes moving crisply‚ but lowering the curtain during interludes leaves Brian Large’s excellent visual direction with only conductor and orchestra‚ to the detriment of tension. Striking and involving none the less‚ with no competition on DVD.