<<<  <<  -- 4 --  Kelly Ferjutz    TRULY SPECIAL

The Prince was beautifully sung by the Polish tenor Piotr Beczala. His lyric voice lends itself well to this role. He was totally convincing at the end of the opera when he asks Rusalka for a kiss, even after she's told him he'll die if he touches her. While American soprano Emily Magee was enticing and seductive as The Foreign Princess, she displayed a nice sense of asperity with her somewhat slow Princely host.

American baritone Christopher Feigum was amusing -- and stalwart -- in his two smaller roles as the Prince's Gamekeeper and Huntsman. Eva Liebau, a petite soprano from Austria, was charming as the young Turnspit, who nevertheless had the good sense to stay out of Jezibaba's way. The three wood nymphs (all making their American débuts) were Austrian sopranos Anna Prohaska and Stefanie Atanasov, along with Czech-born mezzo Hannah Esther Minutillo.

The orchestra was superb, especially the principal winds and harp in their many solos. The strings and brass sounded lush. It was a truly special performance.