Opera from a certain point of view. The best opera magazine on the web. Reviews, breaking news, critical essays, and brainrot commentary on opera from those demented enough to love it.
Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin mixes it up a bit this week, presenting a score that should be familiar by now, though this time with a novel cast. It’s Dvorák’s Rusalka from the Vienna State Opera with Krassimira Stoyanova in the title role.
Antonín Dvorák: Rusalka
Wiener Staatsoper
Jirí Belohlávek, conductor
01 February 2014
Rusalka – Krassimira Stoyanova
Prince – Michael Schade
Foreign Princess – Monika Bohinec
Jezibaba – Janina Baechle
Gnome – Günther Groissböck
Kitchen Boy – Stephanie Houtzeel
Gamekeeper – Gabriel Bermúdez
First Sprite – Valentina Nafornita
Second Sprite – Lena Belkina
Third Sprite – Ilseyar Khayrullova
Hunter – Mihail Dogotari
James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.