Lulu (Berg). Libretto by composer; prol. and 3 acts; first performance (incomplete, 2 acts) Zurich 1937, conducted by Robert Denzler; first performance (completed by Friedrich Cerha) Paris 1979, conducted by Pierre Boulez.

Germany, late 19th cent.: Lulu's lover, Dr Schön, an editor, and his son Alwa, a composer, watch Lulu having her portrait painted. They leave and the artist tries to seduce Lulu. Her husband arrives, has a stroke, and dies. The Painter marries Lulu, his portraits sell well, and they are rich. Her ‘father-figure’ Schigolch visits. Schön wants to end his relationship with Lulu and wed his fiancée. He reveals their past to the Painter, who kills himself. In a theatre, Lulu is dancing to Alwa's music. Schön realizes he cannot live without her and he and Lulu marry, but Alwa still protests his love for Lulu. Schön disapproves of the masculine Countess Geschwitz, who is attracted to Lulu. Jealous of her various relationships, Schön gives Lulu a gun to kill herself, but she uses it to shoot him. Lulu has cholera and is in the prison hospital. With the help of Schigolch and Geschwitz, Alwa arranges her escape and they leave to live together. The stockmarket collapses, they are poor, and Lulu earns money as a prostitute to keep Alwa and Schigolch, who steal from her clients. Her last client is Jack the Ripper. He murders her and the Countess who comes to her aid.