(Photo: Geoffroy Schied) Martin Kušej’s 2010 production of “Rusalka” at the Bayerische Staatsoper has become a modern classic. It made a star of Kristine Opolais and in one way took the torch from David Pountney’s 1986 production at ENO, which revolutionized our view of Dvořák’s opera. Out went the traditional fairy tale and in came a psychoanalytic exploration of a {…}
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is set to present Dvořák’s “Rusalka” for the first time starring Sonya Yoncheva, who is set to make her role debut. The star soprano will be joined by a cast that includes Pavel Černoch as the Prince, Jongmin Park as Vodník, Jennifer Johnston as Ježibaba, and soprano Emma Bell as the Foreign Princess. The Wood Sprites {…}
The Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for “Rusalka.” The company’s said that Anna Kissjudit will sing the role of Ježibaba, replacing Jamie Barton, who is ill. Kissjudit made her company debut on May 18, also replacing Barton. She has performed at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Hamburg State Opera, Bayreuth Festival, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in {…}
The Opéra National de Paris is in the midst of a revival of Robert Carson’s incredible production of “Rusalka.” Coming-of-Age The production itself is minimalist in its set design. The opening scene features a mirror effect with a bed hanging over the stage. On ground level, there’s a central pool and we see four figures asleep alongside it. Sleep becomes {…}
Opera Modesto will present Dvořák’s “Rusalka” at the Foster Family Theater at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, California this April. Prague-based American soprano Bree Nichols takes on the title role opposite tenor Jason Nichols, who is her husband, as the Prince. Annalisa Winberg directs and Caleb Yanez Glickman conducts. Leading up to the production, the Prague-based couple {…}
(© Carlita Sari) Of Antonín Dvořák’s ten operas, “Rusalka,” written around the dawn of the twentieth century and only a few years before the composer’s death, became his most successful. That this highly romantic fairytale (or should one say, water nymph tale?) should be the most courageous of Opera Australia’s (OA) offerings for the second half of this year, tells {…}
(Credit: ©ABofill) The Gran Teatre del Liceu will stream its production of Dvořák’s “Rusalka” on its platform Liceu+ on July 4, 2025. The production by Christof Loy will star Piotr Beczała, Karita Mattila, Asmik Grigorian, Alexandros Stavrakakis, and Okka von der Damerau. Josep Pons will conduct the production. Grigorian is known for her interpretation of Rusalka as she has performed it around the world {…}
(Credit: © Luciano Romano) Rai5 will finally present the Teatro San Carlo’s opening night production of Dvořák’s “Rusalka.” The opera, which was originally set to be shown on Nov. 20, 2024, will be broadcast on May 29. The production is directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov and conducted by Dan Ettinger. Asmik Grigorian stars in the title role alongside Adam Smith as {…}
(Photo Credit: Gianmarco Bresadola) “Regietheater” remains a hot topic in the opera world. The main reason for the controversy is because a lot of those new approaches generally need to contort the original material into something completely new to find purpose. Interpretation gives way to transformation, rewriting, and often, reinvention. I stand a bit in the middle on this. On {…}
(Photo: Národní divadlo Brno) Fairytales often speak directly to our unconscious, revealing drives and truths that are not always apparent to our conscious selves. It is therefore not surprising that many tales are replicated across countries and cultures, even if the characters and details vary. The Slavic fable of Rusalka, for example, has counterparts with the French Melusine, Germanic Nixie {…}
On Nov. 20, the Teatro San Carlo is set to open its 2024-25 season with a new production of “Rusalka.” The company has assembled an all-star cast including Asmik Grigorian and Adam Smith, among many other notable names. But the evening is even more special as Georgian Mezzo superstar Anita Rachvelishvili will make a return to the opera stage. After {…}
