Rusalka

As a huge fan of opera, I loved this production of Rusalka. Dvorak's music is gorgeous and the story magical. The costumes, lighting and sets are all very striking and atmospheric, perhaps lacking a more fairy-tale-like feel, but what there was was really beautiful. The orchestra and conducting are spot on too, in terms of staging the symmetrical mirroring scene in Act 2 is very effective in particular and the direction and video directing just adds to the enchantment. Renee Fleming, who I have always loved is wonderful in the lead role, her Song to the Moon is just breathtaking and her final duet with Larin is riveting. Sergei Larin is in great voice, Franz Hawletta is very touching, Eva Urbanova is very scary in her role as the evil princess and Larissa Diadkova is appropriately impish. Overall, absolutely wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox