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Kieron Quirke's rating
Rusalka is deeply, deeply moving
By
Kieron Quirke
6 Jul 2009
To Glyndebourne, for Dvorak’s rather wonderful Rusalka. Storywise, it's essentially the Little Mermaid with a Slavic twist: the mermaid being the water-nymph of the title.
Melly Still’s production at first can’t decide whether Rusalka’s world of naiads and dryads is scary, comic or enchanting. Most cross with the designer should be Mischa Schelomianski as Rusalka’s dad Vodnik, a Fungus the Bogeyman lookalike who’s just impossible to take seriously.
Conducting, Jiri Belohlavek enjoys Dvorak’s folkish tunes and some Romantic effects so typical you’d snicker if you weren’t sighing.
Larissa Diadkova is a superb witch, despicably evil in her homeliness.
In the title role, Ana Maria Martinez has a beautiful, steely soprano, though not quite the variety or presence to ace her show arias. She has, however, a great chemistry with Brandon Jovanovich’s Prince, and their final deathly duet is deeply, deeply moving. Topping.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
