Dvorak: Rusalka (complete opera recorded in 2010) BLU-RAY

"Kristine Opolais is simply splendid as Rusalka. She can both sing and act, and she is a beautiful woman besides. I found her performance as Polina in Prokofiev's The Gambler splendid, and she is just as compelling, maybe more compelling, a performer here. Her Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém is splendidly sung and her dramatic skills throughout the opera are arresting: she's an operatic Meryl Streep, conveying so much in a facial expression or a glance. Klaus Florian Vogt is also excellent as The Prince, as is Günter Groissböck, a villain you will love to hate. The rest of the cast is also excellent. Conductor Tomáš Hanus must be given a goodly portion of the credit for this effort, as he draws spirited and accurate performances from the orchestra with tempos that always seem perfectly appropriate. Costuming and sets are fine…and other elements of the production contribute to the general excellence of this offering. There is a bonus track, The Making of Rusalka, which I found quite interesting. An absorbing, thought-provoking and totally enjoyable recording!" (ClassicalNet)

Dvořák's "fairy-tale opera" looks and sounds beautiful in this Blu-ray recording, the highdefnition (1080p) video capturing every detail from the shadowy opening to striking close-ups of skin-tones and rippling water, making this a real visual treat. The audio sticks with the impression of watching a live event in a theatre rather than trying to bring the performers "a bit more forward". Not that the performance of Kristine Opolais, in the title role, needs any assistance-it's quite breathtaking enough as it is." (Gramophone)