Dvorák: Rusalka

I have always preferred live to studio recording, though there is always the danger that what can be so remarkable in performance won't transfer easily to disc. Such, I suspect, is the case with this new Rusalka from Glyndebourne last year. It's by no means a failure, and has much to recommend it. But it's also not overwhelming in the way that most who saw it in the theatre considered it to be. On the plus side, there is a sensational performance by Ana María Martínez and authoritative conducting from Jirˇí Beˇlohlávek. Less successful are Brandon Jovanovich's cleanly sung but unimaginative Prince, Larissa Diadkova's harsh-toned Ježibaba and a Wood Goblin (Mischa Schelomianski) who sounds too young and not nearly threatening enough. Melly Still's production, adored by many, was clearly very active, since there's a fair amount of extraneous noise – stage clatter, audience laughter and, at one point, a lot of women screaming.