Fantasy and nightmare: Rusalka at Komische Oper

By Ako Imamura, 23 October 2016

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Reviewed at Komische Oper Berlin, Berlin on 21 October 2016

Dvořák, Rusalka

Komische Oper Berlin

Henrik Nánási, Conductor

Barrie Kosky, Director

Klaus Grünberg, Set Designer

Klaus Bruns, Costume Designer

Nadja Mchantaf, Rusalka

Nadine Weissmann, Ježibaba, the Witch

Timothy Richards, Prince

Jens-Erik Aasbø, Vodník, the water goblin

Ursula Hesse von den Steinen, Foreign Princess

Annika Gerhards, First Wood Sprite

Maria Fiselier, Second Wood Sprite

Katarzyna Włodarczyk, Third Wood Sprite

Christiane Oertel, Kitchen Boy

Ivan Turšić, Gamekeeper

Johannes Dunz, The Hunter

Orchester der Komischen Oper Berlin

Barrie Kosky directs a ferocious new Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

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Shostakovich's opera is laid bare in Berlin, to devastating effect, with a distinguished cast led by Ambur Braid.

****1

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Salome is faceless and the Dance of the Seven Veils becomes a sardonic commentary on seduction in Komische Oper Berlin's austere new staging.

****1

Opulent minimalism: Kosky directs a new staging of Akhnaten

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Barrie Kosky's new production of Philip Glass' Akhnaten for Komische Oper at the Schillertheater removes any egyptological references.

****1

A blade too dull: Kosky directs Sweeney Todd at Komische Oper

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With a brand new production by Barrie Kosky, Komische Oper Berlin's first venture into the Sondheim repertoire mostly falls flat.

**111

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David Smythe, 16th August

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Kosky's Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will at Komische Oper

Elena Luporini, 22nd March

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***11

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Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.

Fantasy and nightmare: Rusalka at Komische Oper Berlin