Day 282 Resonance Works-Opera-Dvorak's Rusalka-Charity Randall Theater- Innate Nature

 Rusalka is an opera based on  Slavic mythology which is similar to the Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. It's a love story of  a water nymph who falls for a prince and decides to transform into a human in order to  experience love in the human world but she can not change her innate nature.   I was excited to experience this transformation and the  Resonance Works production of this Czech opera  in the intimate setting of the Charity Randall Theater.   

Rusalka 

Refection

 Resonance Works, founded in 2013, is a company that showcases orchestra, chorus, chamber music, opera and musical theater. The company collaborates with others and performs at various Pittsburgh venues. This company gives artists a forum for their  performance ideas and they produce one opera a year.  

Ježibaba and Rusalka

Rusalka tells the tale of the water nymph, which is akin to a mermaid, who falls in love with the Prince and thus desires to become human  to be with him. Her father, Vodnick, the Water Sprite, warns her that  humans are evil and sinful. She calls to the witch, Jezibaba,  to assist in her  human transformation.  As a mortal, she must give up her voice, immortality, and worst of all, if she does not find love, she will be cursed and the prince will die. Typical in  the dramatic tone of an opera,  Rusalka agrees to the terms because she believes that her love for the Prince would conquer all evil.

Rusalka and her father Vodnick, the Water Sprite

The Prince  is enamored with the human Rusalka’s beauty and brings her back to his castle.  Rusalka is  like a “fish out of water” (no pun intended)  and uncomfortable in her new world. She sings that she is only "half human", lacking the ability to fully express mortal passion.

The Prince does not understand her coldness toward him and succumbs to the passionate flirtations of a visiting Foreign Princess. When he proclaims  his love for her, the Prince sets  in motion the damnation of Rusalka and his eventual kiss of death.  Rusalka  illustrates that  no matter how hard you try or want something, sometimes you  can not change your innate nature.  

With Rusalka's kiss, the Prince dies

This opera  demands strong  soprano vocals  as it  weighs heavily with female characters. This production meets the needed vocal strength. Rusalka (Rachele Schmiege)  beautifully sings her aria to the moon in the first act.  The Foreign Princess (Natalie Polito) shows her vocal power as she seduces the prince in Act 2 . The  witch, Ježibaba (Laurel Semerdjian)  has a unique tone as a robust mezzo-soprano. 

There are times when  the orchestra performes solo on an empty stage or as the characters stroll on the stage. This brings down the energy  at times  but the vocals remain consistantly strong and I particularly enjoyed the beautiful baritone, Vodnick (Micheal Scarcelle).

Gothic Charity Randall Theater (478) seats in Oakland 

The Charity Randall Theater  was an intimate venue (478 seats) with fantastic acoustics for an opera. Even though the set and costumes were  not as extravagant as other opera productions,  the  intimacy was captivating and Dvořák's musical score filled the theater with a live orchestra conducted  by Maria Sensi Sellner.

  I intend to keep Resonance Works in my empty nest survival tool box and look forward to exploring  their  2018-19 season.

(Rusalka runs on  May 11 and May 13, 2018 at the Charity Randall Theater in Oakland. For tickets go to http://www.resonanceworks.org.)

Spiritual Source

Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

Other Source

http://www.resonanceworks.org/

showcases an orchestra, chorus, vocal soloists, chamber musicians, staged opera, and musical theater 

show showcases an orchestra, chorus, vocal soloists, chamber musicians, staged opera, and musical theate