Rusalka makes a splash in a long overdue Teatro alla Scala debut

Olga Bezsmertna (Rusalka) and Jongmin Park (Vodník)

Elena Guseva (Foreign Princess), Dmitry Korchak (Prince) and Olga Bezsmertna (Rusalka)

Okka von der Damerau (Ježibaba), Dmitry Korchak, Olga Bezsmertna and Jongmin Park

By Laura Servidei, 15 June 2023

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“Olga Bezsmertna’s Rusalka was both vulnerable and dramatic, avoiding any sugary affect”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 13 June 2023

Dvořák, Rusalka

Teatro alla Scala

Tomáš Hanus, Conductor

Emma Dante, Director

Carmine Maringola, Set Designer

Vanessa Sannino, Costume Designer

Cristian Zucaro, Lighting Designer

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Olga Bezsmertna, Rusalka

Dmitry Korchak, Prince

Jongmin Park, Vodník, the water goblin

Okka von der Damerau, Ježibaba, the Witch

Elena Guseva, Foreign Princess

Jiří Rajniš, Gamekeeper

Svetlina Stoyanova, Kitchen Boy

Hila Fahima, First Wood Sprite

Juliana Grigoryan, Second Wood Sprite

Valentina Pluzhnikova, Third Wood Sprite

Ilya Silchukov, The Hunter

Romeo Castellucci directs a new Pelléas et Mélisande at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 26th April

The Italian director makes his long-awaited Italian operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in a production which perfectly mirrors Debussy’s most enigmatic creation.

****1

Diamonds and steel: Anna Pirozzi rules in La Scala’s Turandot revival

Laura Servidei, 12th April

Visually enchanting and meticulously staged, this centenary revival confirms Livermore's production as a modern classic.

****1

The Ring returns to the Rhine: Götterdämmerung at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 1st February

Under Alexander Soddy’s powerful conducting and Sir David McVicar’s dark, evocative staging, the Ring finds a searing conclusion, anchored by a powerful Brünnhilde from Camilla Nylund, as the world burns.

*****

Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth conquers La Scala on opening night

Laura Servidei, 7th December

Shostakovich's brutal tale of sex, murder and madness storms La Scala's opening night, with Riccardo Chailly leading his final season premiere as Music Director.

****1

The game of love: Robert Carsen’s new Così fan tutte at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 8th November

Alexander Soddy leads a great cast in a clever, supremely entertaining new production in Milan.

****1

Pelly’s iconic Fille du régiment retains its charm at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 17th October

Julie Fuchs and Juan Diego Flórez give life to the refreshing and funny take of Laurent Pelly’s classic production, under the baton of Evelino Pidò.

****1

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.