Dvořák Rusalka opera to libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil. Directed 2019 by Melly Still at the Glyndebourne Festival (reviving her 2009 staging). Stars Sally Matthews (Rusalka); Evan LeRoy Johnson (Prince); Alexander Roslavets (Vodnik), Patricia Bardon (Ježibaba), Colin Judson (Gamekeeper), Alix Le Saux (Kitchen Girl), Zoya Tsererina (Foreign Princess), Vuvu Mpofu (First Wood Nymph), Anna Pennisi (Second Wood Nymph), Alyona Abramova (Third Wood Nymph), and Adam Marsden (Hunter). Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Kevin Lin) and The Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Director Aidan Oliver). Designs by Rae Smith; movement direction by Rick Nodine; lighting design by Paule Constable. Directed for TV by François Roussillon. Sung in Czech. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Clive Paget gives this two thumbs up (January 2021 Opera News, pages 54-55) stating that Sill “mines the story for all it’s worth” and Titcciati delivers a “thrusting reading propelled to sublime heights by an outstanding vocal cast” including tenor Johnson as the Prince in “easily the most beautiful rendition of the role on record.” We can’t review everything we would like, but based on Paget’s comments, this is now on our buy list for sure.
Here’s a trailer from Glyndebourne:
OR
