Dvorak: Rusalka Opera Orchestral & Concertos Chandos

Dvorak: Rusalka

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CHAN 10449

Multiple Set of 3 CDs

Dvorak: Rusalka

Running Time: 152:22

Release Date: 2008

Composer (1841-1904)
Antonin Dvorák

Solo soprano - Wood Nymph
Sarah Crane

Solo soprano - Wood Nymph
Taryn Fiebig

Solo mezzo-soprano - Wood Nymph
Dominica Matthews

Solo bass - Water Sprite
Bruce Martin

Soprano Voice soprano - Rusalka
Cheryl Barker

Solo mezzo-soprano - Jezibaba
Anne-Marie Owens

Solo tenor - Prince
Rosario La Spina

Solo baritone - Gamekeeper/Huntsman
Barry Ryan

Solo soprano - Kitchen Boy
Sian Pendry

Solo soprano - Foreign Princess
Elizabeth Whitehouse

Choral
Opera Australia Chorus

Orchestra
Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra

Conductor
Richard Hickox

Venue
Sydney Opera House

Producer
Ralph Couzens

Engineer
Allan Maclean

Engineer (Assistant)
Tony David Cray

Engineer (Assistant)
Jason Blackwell

Genre:
Opera
Orchestral & Concertos

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Temporarily out of stock

ANTONIN DVORÁK

(1841-1904)

Rusalka

152:37

An opera in three acts

Libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil, after Undine

by Friedrich Heinrich de la Motte Fouqué

A production by Opera Australia recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2007

COMPACT DISC ONE

Act I

A forest glade at the edge of a lake. A moonlit night.

Prelude

4:24

Allegro molto. 'Ho, ho, ho'

4:28

Wood Nymph

'You are most welcome here in the lake'

3:24

Water Sprite

'Father Water Sprite!'

4:17

Rusalka

'He often comes here'

4:31

Rusalka

'O moon in the velvet heavens'

4:50

Rusalka

'The water feels cold!'

3:19

Rusalka

'With your ancient wisdom, you know everything'

3:02

Rusalka

'I know that, I know that'

6:24

Jezibaba

10.

'Abracadabra'

3:50

Jezibaba

11.

'A young Huntsman was once out riding'

4:53

Huntsman

12.

'Divine vision, sweetest being'

4:31

Prince

13.

'I know you're nothing but magic'

2:06

Prince

54:04

COMPACT DISC TWO

Act II

A park surrounding the Prince's palace.

'Tell me all, dear boy'

4:07

Gamekeeper

'Our forest is haunted'

3:48

Gamekeeper

'You have now been with me for a week'

5:07

Prince

'Ah, this reproach comes not before time'

3:46

Prince

Ballet. Andante - Moderato maestoso

6:51

'No-one in the world can give you…'

4:09

Water Sprite

'White blossoms along the road'

5:58

Wedding Guests

'Oh, it's all in vain!'

2:54

Rusalka

'Do you see them?'

3:19

Rusalka

10.

'But when my fire has burnt you out'

3:36

Foreign Princess

43:40

COMPACT DISC THREE

Act III

The lakeside glade. Night is drawing on.

'Unfeeling water power'

4:00

Rusalka

'Deprived of my youth'

4:18

Rusalka

'Aha! Are you back already?'

3:06

Jezibaba

'You must wash away Nature's curse'

5:08

Jezibaba

'I am torn from life'

4:01

Rusalka

'Are you afraid?'

3:55

Gamekeeper

'Our prince has Fallen dangerously ill'

4:07

Kitchen Boy

'I have golden tresses'

7:45

First Wood Nymph

'My white doe!'

4:47

Prince

10.

'Beloved, do you recognise me?'

2:21

Rusalka

11.

'Why did you enfold me in your arms…?'

5:23

Rusalka

12.

'Kiss me, kiss me, give me peace'

5:57

Prince

54:53

Solo: Sarah Crane soprano - Wood Nymph

Solo: Taryn Fiebig soprano - Wood Nymph

Solo: Dominica Matthews mezzo-soprano - Wood Nymph

Solo: Bruce Martin bass - Water Sprite

Solo: Anne-Marie Owens mezzo-soprano - Jezibaba

Solo: Rosario La Spina tenor - Prince

Solo: Barry Ryan baritone - Gamekeeper/Huntsman

Solo: Sian Pendry soprano - Kitchen Boy

Solo: Elizabeth Whitehouse soprano - Foreign Princess

Choral: Opera Australia Chorus

Orchestra: Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra

Conductor: Richard Hickox

21-29 March 2007

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Reviews

Editor's Choice

"A final choice must remain marginal, but anyone who wants a new-minted version of one of the most magical of all operas – with the harp signalling the otherworldly magic of Rusalka as Water nymph, more atmospherically recorded than on Decca – this new Chandos version makes an excellent choice."

Gramophone magazine

"... The young Australian tenor Rosario La Spina is stupendous, far more that just the best Prince ever. Every note from top to bottom has a gorgeous ring, and he sings with passion. His three arias closing Act I are dazzling, as he sails easily through the high tessitura; his Act II duets with Whitehouse as the foreign Princess are the stuff of operatic legend. She is very good on her own; together they make sparks fly. Not since Pavarotti have I been bowled over by a new tenor. As a bonus, la Spina also seems comfortable with the Czech language."

Fanfare

"The new performance has much to recommend it. It is also sung in Czech skilfully though (as a foreigner I suggest diffidently) with mixed success. It has at the helm Richard Hickox, well at ease with this Australian forces, pacing the music expertly with an affectionate hand. He draws excellent playing from the orchestra, which has a distinct warmth and timbre of its own… Cheryl Barker is an outstanding Rusalka."

International Record Review

Critic’s Choice 2008

Edward Greenfield - Gramophone magazine - 2008

Editor's Choice

"As musical director of Opera Australia, it is not surprising that Richard Hickox should want to make recordings with that excellent company. He has made a bold choice in Dvorak’s last and greatest opera, Rusalka, when there is a near definitive version available on Decca with a mainly Czech cast and the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras. Yet even in face of such competition there is a strong case for the new version from Chandos… A final choice must remain marginal, anyone who wants a new-minted version of one of the most magical of all operas… this new Chandos version made an excellent choice."

Gramophone magazine

"British conductor Richard Hickox responds beautifully to the passionate ebb and surge of the score, and draws some luscious playing from the orchestra… Australian soprano Cheryl Barker makes a very touching Rusalka."

Classic FM

Cheryl Barker is on excellent form, immersing herself in Rusalka’s fiendish technical and emotional range. Good showings in smaller roles include Bruce Martin as a cranky Water Sprite.

The Times

My Wish List

Dvorak: Rusalka

Temporarily out of stock

ANTONIN DVORÁK

Rusalka

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