Search - Dvorak - Rusalka / Robert Carsen, James Conlon - Fleming, Urbanova, Diadkova, Larin, Opéra de Paris on DVD

An Abomination

John Pilley | Washington State, USA | 03/30/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The music was beyond reproach and the performers well cast. So why the one star? An opera, to me, is a story set by the composer in a setting of time and place. It is a visual and audial work of love where sound and sight are carefully joined to achieve the composer's purpose. Dvorak's beautiful fairy tale has been sacrificed to some giant ego who has completely disregarded Dvorak's setting. The opera is a fairy tale with dark woods, wood nymphs, a water goblin, a prince and princess and the protagonist who is a water nymph. How can it be set in a stark room with electric lights and a double bed? The prince comes seeking "the white doe" through the "woods" in a suit, topcoat and derby!! The only way I could get through this unpleasantness was to close my eyes often and just listen to the music. As another reviewer has said, buy the audio CD of Rene Fleming as Rusulka."

Water Spirit

Mr. Daniel Zehnacker | 12/29/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"la production est étonnante. Robert Carsen a du génie. Que d'eau et que de miroirs! Il y a de quoi s'y noyer!
Franchement, je ne connaissais de cet opéra que l'air de Rusalka, chanté par tous les sopranos du monde, en récital ou sur CD. Le rôle est long, pas toujours intéressant vocalement, et Miss Fleming a bien du courage de s'y atteler, les génies et les princes charmants lui en seront reconnaissants, quant aux autres...ils oublieront et se replongeront dans des livrets plus abordables.
Pour les curieux, cet enregistrement constituera une bonne approche de l'âme slave, tourmentée et pittoresque comme on aime se la représenter avec des oeuvres plus connues, de Tchaikovski par exemple, et ils apprécieront le soin porté à la mise en scène très fluide et très intelligente. Les chanteurs sont à la hauteur de la réputation de la star-Fleming. Mention spéciale au toujours sublime Michel Sénéchal."

Rusalka! Rusalka! where for art thou Rusalka!

Giles Bernard J. Hall | Tasmania; Australia | 09/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rusalka is one of my favourite Czech operas. Dvorak's scoring is magnificent; edging towards the Wagnerian side of the scale; combining light and lyrical with dramatic overtones. The cast is impeccable. Commencing with Renee Fleming in one of her greatest roles to date and her support cast members are strong enough to match her. Sergei Larin's helder-tenor voice ripe for the picking. Laisssa Diadkova has always been a favourite of mine and here she displays why, both vocally and artistically. Franz Hawlata's large basso voice gives the Water Sprite that little bit of menace. The three wood nymphs of Michelle Canniccioni; Svetlana Lifar & Nona Javakhide are extremely powerful and remind me of the three Rhine Maidens from Das Rhinegold of Wager's Ring Cycle. Eva Urbanova makes a chilling Foreign Princess, the remainder of the cast match these. The Act ll Ballet is stunning as is the orchestral playing of the National Paris Opera Orchestra under the direction of James Conlon. Now we come to the staging: I can see where Michael Levine is coming from, but I do NOT agree with his decision or vision. Come on, what has happened to traditional set design? Who do these so called modern designers think they are! The composer and lyricist have developed a story/theme, why not stick to it. After all it has survived since its inception. How would you feel if the conductor wanted to play around with the music and add bits of his own? Would that be acceptable? So why change the design so that no one, other, than the designer knows where the opera is set.
This is a beautiful opera destroyed by an over egotistical designer who thinks he knows best. If he insists on these weird designs, then he should write an opera to go with it.
I have a saying: if it ain't broke, don't fix it; and that applies to operatic staging.
"

Poorly staged

K. McKinney | USA | 09/06/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Rusalka is among my favorite operas - Dvorak did a wonderful job composing the music to fit beautifully with the plot and the fantasty elements. I have the Fleming CD, and I thankfully did not buy this DVD. I borrowed it from the library, thinking I would at least enjoy it, even if it was imperfect. Giving this DVD two stars is generous. A fairly traditional staging is all that can work with Rusalka; it is a fantasy, set in what is almost another world. As soon as Rusalka's father entered wearing a suit, I knew the production would not be to my liking. It was about halfway through the opera that I realized I would actually hate it. Many portions of the opera become almost entirely nonsensical because the libretto does not match what's happening on stage. The simplistic staging could work for other operas, but Rusalka is a piece of fantasy that deserves better than what this director gave it. The extra star in my review is merely because of the music itself. Not recommended at all"