Customer Reviews

Dvorak: Rusalka

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Dvorak's stunningly beautiful opera, which so effortlessly weaves together Czech folk rhythms with almost Wagnerian lietmotifs has recently become a favorite role of the American soprano Renee Fleming. Her recording is available on Decca. On the Supraphon label, the lovely Gabriella Benackova also has a recording. Both Benackova and Fleming have achieved international fame. Benackova's silvery, almost otherworldly voice is unmatched for this water-sprite role. But her set is plagued by a rather forgettable performance from Wieslaw Ochman as the Prince.

Chalabala's lesser known 1961 set remains my favorite Rusalka. This recording has a vigor and vivacity that the other sets lack -- Chalabala seems to understand the nuances of the score like the back of his hand. There are some very minor cuts, which is the only drawback. But this recording is the only one that makes me love ALL of Rusalka, not just the deservedly famous moments (like the Song to the Moon).

The cast is uniformly excellent. Milada Subtrova's voice has neither the lushness of Renee Fleming's nor the otherworldliness of Gabriella Benackova's, but it is still exceptionally beautiful. Like many Slavic voices it has an edge of steeliness, but fortunately it never turns truly hard(unlike, say, Galina Vishnevskaya). Her Rusalka has a desperation, ardor and earthiness the other Rusalkas lack. Even the Song to the Moon is sung with fervency. Subrtova's Rusalka is always deeply felt.

As Rusalka's watersprite father Eduard Haken has perhaps the loveliest music of the entire opera. His vibrato has loosened a bit, but he still infuses this role with tenderness and feeling. Ivo Zidek, as the faithless Prince, had an extremely distinguished career. If his voice doesnt have the absolute purity and beauty of, say, Fritz Wunderlich, he still sings with an idiomatic style and sensitivity. His final duet with Subrtova is heartrending.

I think overall this recording understands that a slim "fairy tale" doesn't necessarily equal a certain lyrical detatchment. This sad little story of a the water nymph and her faithless Prince is performed almost veristically. So even though the early stereo sound can occasionally be tinny, I really think if you want a Rusalka, this is the recording to get.

The music is great. The recording is a little old but fine. The singers sound good. The package comes with a little "commentary" booklet about the opera and the full libretto (nice touch!). This is a studio recording so there are no irritating audience sounds. The sound is clear and vibrant.

For those unfamiliar with Dvorak's most famous opera I heartly recommend it. It's very lyrical, and pleasing to the ear. There is a lot more here than just the famous "O moon" (heard in 'Driving Miss Daisy') the entire opera is lovely and very easy to get into.

Turn up your stereo and enjoy!

Rusalka is, along with "Yevgeny Onegin", my favourite Slavic opera. Only a few stunning recordings of this one exist, my favourites almost all "unknowns". My Nr.1 sadly only recorded the song to the moon, the sadly underrated Pilar Lorengar. Nr.2 is present on this recording, Milada Subtrova. Her voice is utterly perfect for this role. Beautiful in an unearthly way, youthful & yearning she gives the despairing watersprite a dignity it so desperately needed. Her phrasing is ardent and noble, her diction picture-perfect. Her vocal acting surpasses such great Rusalkas as Stratas, Fleming &Benackova. It may not have Stratas' fragility, Fleming's pacing & lucurious timbre & Benackova's silvery top but it has enough of everything and more. Never do we hear her throw herself in a pose, she's always natural. A great achievement that's sadly underrated nowadays. (She also lends an actress her voice in a Rusalka-Film, btw)

Eduard Haken sounds perfect as Rusalka's warning father. simply superb. Ivo Zidek sings with fervour & youthful timbre as the faithless prince, his final duet with Rusalka is heartbreaking indeed. Despite my love for Fleming & Stratas, this remains my favourite recording of Dvorak's enchanting fairy tale opera.

This 1961 recording by the all-Czech cast is just great. They all performed the roles their entire lives and you can clearly hear it in their performances. As a Czech native, I was not distracted by imperfect pronunciations and trully enjoyed the performance as it captured the beauty of Dvorak's music. It made me homesick.....

Rusalka is quintessential Dvorak. And it is one of those operas that's totally entertaining to hear on CD even if you don't know or follow the libretto. I have heard the sets by Neumann and Mackerras and despite their virtues, Chalabala's performance makes Dvorak's score come alive in the way alive the others don't. The sound is rich and full and revealing of detail. And the price is competitive. If you love Dvorak this is not to be missed.

Simply the best. If you are romantic, I think it is one of most fairy and almost impressive operatic music. Buy it ! A lot of beauty for a little money !