On November 11, Theater Bremen, Germany, presented a new production of Dvořák’s Rusalka. Directed by Anna-Sophie Mahler, it became already the fourth opera featuring a strong female lead she staged in Bremen, following Carmen, Maria Stuarda and, five years ago, Janáček’s Makropulos Affair.
Mahler set the plot into the rooms reminiscent of the socialist Czechoslovakia of the 70s and instead of on the love story, she focused on the, here apparently incestuous, relationship between Rusalka and her father. The main roles are sung by Patricia Andress, Luis Olivares Sandoval (Prince), Christoph Heinrich/Claudio Otelli (Water Goblin) and Marlene Lichtenberg/Romina Boscolo (Witch), the music director is the ensemble’s new first kapellmeister Hartmut Keil who will take turns conducting with Winston Dan Vogel. There are ten more performances scheduled in the 2017/18 season.
11 November 2017, Theater Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Antonín Dvořák: Rusalka (premiere)
Directed by: Anna-Sophie Mahler, conductors: Winston Dan Vogel, Hartmut Keil
following performances: Nov 17 and 25, Dec 13, 21, 25 and 29 2017, Jan 7, 20 and 30, Feb 16 and Mar 18 2018