Dvořák’s Rusalka Streaming to Orcas Center

Sunday, February 26, 1 p.m, Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver —

Orcas Center presents the New York Met’s Rusalka by Dvořák streaming Live in HD on Sunday, February 26 at 1 pm. Islanders will be smitten by the enchanting opera about a mermaid who gives up her voice to become mortal after falling in love with a human prince. The mysterious story is complete with an aria to the moon, dancing wood sprites, a water gnome who presides over a meadow, and a witch who dwells in the forest.

Kristine Opolais stars in this new production of the opera that first won her international acclaim. This haunting love story, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” stars Jamie Barton as the duplicitous witch Ježibaba, with Katarina Dalayman as the Foreign Princess, Rusalka’s rival; Brandon Jovanovich as the Prince who captures Rusalka’s heart; Eric Owens as the Water Sprite, Rusalka’s father. Mary Zimmerman directs the new staging of Rusalka which is conducted by Sir Mark Elder.

Dvořák’s 1901 Czech opera, Rusalka, arrived at the Met in 1993. The 2017 production marks Zimmerman’s third staging, at the Met, in the Peter Gelb era. This opera, beloved for its aria “Song to the Moon,” is touted a dark, sexy hit, by The New York Times. Zimmerman says that this opera carries a wise warning: If you have to transform yourself drastically, to the point of literally losing your voice, for the sake of love, the relationship may well be doomed. This theme comes through in every element of this haunting production. If you’ve not yet experienced the Metropolitan Opera streamed from New York City to Orcas Center, now you can be initiated to a “front row” opera with internationally acclaimed greats.

Tickets for the Met’s Rusalka are $20, $15 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-2 pm. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017 season visit www.orcascenter.org.