Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, Dvorak's Rusalka is a fairy-tale opera. Sang in Czech, it is a rare treat to listen to the internationally acclaimed Renee Fleming play the title role, especially as she sung the unforgettable "Song to the Moon".
She was in her best form even when she mimed with elegant fluidity the part where she was mute. Story has it that the water nymph Rusalka fell in love with a human Prince who visits the forest where she lives. She asked that she be transformed into a human and through the help of the witch Jezibaba she was, but she lost her power of speech which she did recover suddenly at the second act.
With Dvorak's lush scores and Fleming's voice penetrating throughout the performance, it was an afternoon of glorious opera. The visuals and costumes were topnotch and the setting at the lake life-like.
