No fairy tale: Kušej’s Rusalka works with devastating force in Munich

Asmik Grigorian (Rusalka)

Pavol Breslik (Prince)

Pavol Breslik (Prince) and Elena Guseva (Foreign Princess)

Kevin Conners (Gamekeeper) and Ekaterine Buachidze (Kitchen Boy)

Christof Fischesser (Vodník)

By Orsolya Gyárfás, 28 July 2025

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“the production’s exacting physicality clearly fits Grigorian’s no-holds-barred acting”

Reviewed at Nationaltheater, Munich on 26 July 2025

Dvořák, Rusalka

Bavarian State Opera

Edward Gardner, Conductor

Martin Kušej, Director

Martin Zehetgruber, Set Designer

Heidi Hackl, Costume Designer

Reinhard Traub, Lighting Designer

Bayerisches Staatsorchester

Bayerischer Staatsopernchor

Olaf Schmitt, Dramaturgy

Asmik Grigorian, Rusalka

Okka von der Damerau, Ježibaba, the Witch

Pavol Breslik, Prince

Christof Fischesser, Vodník, the water goblin

Elena Guseva, Foreign Princess

Mirjam Mesak, First Wood Sprite

Arnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Second Wood Sprite

Natalie Lewis, Third Wood Sprite

Ekaterine Buachidze, Kitchen Boy

Kevin Conners, Gamekeeper

Vitor Bispo, The Hunter

Franz Obermair, Choirmaster / chorus director

Jones’ wicked Hänsel und Gretel returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper

Mark Pullinger, 6th December

Even without a gingerbread house, there’s enough wickedness in Richard Jones’ staging of Humperdinck’s opera for sweet tooths to savour.

****1

Everlasting Everding: another beautiful Munich Zauberflöte revival

Laura Servidei, 4th January

August Everding’s Magic Flute is revived in Munich with a solid cast for the enjoyment of all ages.

***11

And they were the most divine gods: Das Rheingold in Munich

Phillip Richter, 3rd November

Tobias Kratzer's prelude to this new Ring cycle exceeds all expectations and scores a musical-theatrical success.

*****

All play and no work: an exuberant Figaro in Munich

Orsolya Gyárfás, 17th July

Evgeny Titov's new production is heavy on the jokes and light in substance, but delights anyway thanks to its high-class cast.

****1

Waltzing masks and masquerades in Kosky’s new Fledermaus

Zenaida des Aubris, 23rd December

Expect sequins and swinging chandeliers in the Australian director's new Fledermaus at the Bayerische Staatsoper.

****1

Beauty and courage in Tristan und Isolde in Munich

Ako Imamura, 10th April

Bayrischer Staatsoper’s revival of Warlikowski’s static production of Tristan und Isolde featured a sensational role debut of Elena Pankratova as Isolde.

****1

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Orsolya Gyárfás

A university student in Budapest, currently pursuing a degree in Aesthetics, Orsolya is an opera fan, particularly interested in the works of Mozart and Wagner.