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A riveting Rusalka by Lyric Opera in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin

By Andrew Larkin, 24 September 2013

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Reviewed at Gaiety Theatre, Dublin on 18 September 2013

Dvořák, Rusalka

Lyric Opera Dublin

Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera

Ballet Ireland

Natasha Jouhl, Rusalka

Jeffrey Gwaltney, Prince

Gabriela Iştoc, Soprano

Richard Wiegold, Bass

Imelda Drumm, Ježibaba, the Witch

A charming Merry Widow in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 16th May

A delightfully entertaining and amusing production of Lehár's classic operetta The Merry Widow

***11

The Drover's Wife brings Aboriginal Dreaming to opera audiences

Jeremy Eccles, 16th May

Emerging from different incarnations of Leah Purcell’s play, George Palmer’s opera develops traditional Dreaming elements from Aboriginal mythology, premiering in Brisbane.

****1

Orlando revisited: Olga Neuwirth’s Woolf adaptation comes to Berlin

Elena Luporini, 16th May

The German premiere of Olga Neuwirth’s Orlando at the Komische Oper cements it as a postmodern grand opéra – for better or for worse.

***11

Anna Netrebko gatecrashes Riccardo Chailly’s La Scala farewell

Laura Servidei, 16th May

Riccardo Chailly’s final new production as artistic director is a celebration of Verdi and of a conductor whose relationship with the Milanese audience has clearly deepened over the years.

*****

Iolanta paired with Luonnotar in dramatic Helsinki double bill

No’a L. bat Miri, 15th May

In Helsinki, Antony McDonald pairs Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with a staged version of Sibelius’ tone poem Luonnotar, brilliantly voiced by soprano Silja Aalto.

*****

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

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Andrew Larkin

Andrew Larkin is a pianist, composer and teacher from Dublin. Educated at Dublin and at Cambridge, he has performed all around Europe and Mexico. He currently teaches piano and composition in Dublin.