Rusalka

Antonín Dvorák's 1901 opera—based on a folk story about a water-sprite who sacrifices her voice to become human for love of a prince, only to tragically lose his affection—is given a provocative re-interpretation by stage director Martin Kušej in this 2010 production at Munich's Bayerische Staatsoper. Here, Rusalka (Kristine Opolais) and her sisters are imprisoned in a filthy, waterlogged basement by their abusive water goblin father (Günther Groissböck). After Rusalka sings her famous aria to the moon, she is liberated by her witch mother, Ježibaba (Janina Baechle), and encounters the prince (Klaus Florian Vogt), who is out hunting. But the action remains dark—a wedding scene set to charming music is staged as a nightmarish vision with women dressed in bridal gowns dancing while cradling half-skinned deer partners. And the resolution is mostly grim, with Rusalka's father arrested but the girls placed in a mental hospital. Although the musical side is excellent—the Bayerisches Staatsorchester plays with nuance and beauty under conductor Tomáš Hanus, and Opolais sings (and acts) splendidly in the title role (ably supported by Vogt and Groissböck)—the enchantment is somewhat lacking here, and the admittedly intriguing concept reflects the director's whim more than the composer's intention. Presented in DTS 5.0 (DTS-HD 5.0 on the Blu-ray release) and LPCM stereo, extras include a “making-of” featurette. Although the more traditional approach taken in the 2002 Paris version starring Renée Fleming (VL-7/04) is preferable, this interesting revision is a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)