Rusalka

I thought this was a very interesting production/interpretation of Rusalka, though I wished they had added English subtitles on the DVD (yes, I know they are singing in English, but it's still difficult to decipher the words nevertheless). Something that really made me laugh -and I kept pressing the backward button - was when one of the "Wood Nymphs" tripped and fell on the stage, making a very loud "THUMP!" I almost missed it at first and thought it was part of the production, but watching it again I realized she tripped on her costume (long white nightgown). It's terrible of me, but I could not stop laughing! You should rent this (I rented it from Netflix) just to see this innocuous blooper. I hope her knee was okay...Gotta admire the way she just carried on with the performance though....If it was me I would have run offstage sobbing.

This wonderful production, filmed at the London Coliseum, makes this potentially cloying fairy tale really terrifying. Interpreted as an Edwardian teenage girl's nightmare vision of her widowed father's new relationship it is not exactly subtle but it certainly packs a punch. There is a more recent version starring Renee Fleming which seems to borrow from the same ideas, but here everything is right including Lazarides' wonderfully surreal sets. Hannan, Treleavan, Howard are all impeccable; it is not surprising that Treleavan is now one of the foremost Wagner tenors. If I had a quibble it would be the inaudibility of the words - so often a problem - I know it is sung in English but sub-titles would be a great advantage. Otherwise - smashing!

Rusalka is not one of my absolute favourites and perhaps not one of the greats. It does however have Song to the Moon, a justifiably famous aria and one of the most beautiful pieces of music that Dvorak ever wrote. This production from the English National Opera is wonderful, and a great example of ENO at their best. Of the two productions I've seen of Rusalka it is also the better one, the other being the Renee Fleming which I did like very much. The sets are not going to please everybody. The Edwardian setting is very sumptuous, and while I can see why some mayn't like it so much the surreal and very Freudian imagery was interesting and did fit with the ill-advised first love that forms the basic story of the opera. The production is beautifully filmed, and the picture and sound are excellent. I agree though that the words are not always audible-the production though is in English just in case anybody else has the same problem when viewing it for the first time-so subtitles would have been welcome. The stage direction is coherent, rarely if ever dull and very moving at the end of Act 3. Musically, the production is even better. The orchestra manage to play the impassioned music in a similarly impassioned way, and the conducting keeps things afloat nicely with none of the tempos or balances coming across as questionable. I loved all of the performances as well. Eilene Hannan is a superb Rusalka, physically and vocally it is a beautiful performance matched by flawless especially in the ending. This production was back in the day when John Treleaven actually sounded good and was singing roles that were much more suited to his voice than the (too) heavy Wagnerian ones he would take on later, he looks every inch a Prince, brings some nobility and actually sings pleasingly and with a ringing tone. Phyllis Cannan has very commanding acting skills, and while some may find her singing ever so slightly overpowering the fruitiness of it makes me not worry so much. Rodney McCann is very touching as the Water Spirit- I also find his voice more preferable in tonal quality to Franz Hawlata in the Fleming production- and the Wood Nymphs blend gorgeously. That leaves Jezibaba, and here she is played with gleeful relish and threatening force by Ann Howard. All the other roles are very well taken also. Overall, English National Opera were in their heyday at this point and their Rusalka here for me is testament to that. 10/10 Bethany Cox