SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Mar. 2 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The own production of the opera ‘Rusalka’ at the Auditorio de Tenerife is set for its grand premiere next week. Showtimes on March 5, 7, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. will showcase this masterpiece composed by Antonín Dvorák, involving over two hundred individuals, including musicians, vocalists, craftsmen, and technical and artistic teams.
Ángeles Blancas, the soprano portraying the lead role, describes the finale of ‘Rusalka’ as “truly enchanting, it will leave you in awe” and expresses her deep gratitude to the Tenerife Auditorium for the opportunity to bring this Rusalka to life, “a role of infinite beauty” which she last performed in 2007.
“Over the years, I have been able to enrich the role, giving it more depth and a wider dimension because now my voice, mind, and body are prepared to infuse the character with all the emotions required; it is truly a dramatic role with very dark and powerful tones, despite being a youthful immortal aquatic nymph,” Blancas reflects.
The recent recipient of the Best Opera Singer XXI award acknowledges that ‘Rusalka’ holds a special place among her favorite operas: “Dvorák’s music has a transcendent quality, taking you to a different realm, each musical phrase tells a tale, none are superfluous, and throughout the opera, you glide through a sea of beauty.”
This will mark the first staging of this Czech composer’s opera on the island, coinciding with the 120th anniversary of his passing. It also signifies the Spanish debut of the Brazilian stage director, André Heller-Lopes, who interweaves elements of both classic and contemporary, incorporating references to the Canary Islands, oriental culture, and the enchantment of nature.
Preparations for this production have been ongoing for months in Tenerife and various other locations worldwide. Indian fabrics have been sourced, certain set pieces crafted in Italian workshops, and several team members have journeyed from Brazil. Additionally, around twenty external companies and professionals are collaborating on different aspects of the production, from intricate costume detailing to special audiovisual effects for the performance, including unique props.
ALTERING REALITIES.
Discussing his creative vision, Heller-Lopes admits to finding it intriguing to alter realities, hence, adapting acts one and three, typically set in the fantastical world, as reality, while conceptualizing act two, in a palace setting, as fantasy. The director also emphasises the opera’s theme of communication breakdown, especially in today’s world dominated by social networks, escalating conflicts, and misinformation.
The creative team of Heller-Lopes is complemented by set designer Renato Theobaldo, costume designer Marcelo Marques, and lighting designer Gonzalo Córdova. Furthermore, the Brazilian director’s assistant, Franklin Davalos, doubles as the choreographer alongside dancers from the Centro Internacional de Danza de Tenerife. Videographer Derek Pedrós is in charge of the projected images, infused with a strong local influence.
Leading the musical arrangements is British maestro Paul Daniel, who will conduct the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra and the Tenerife Opera Choir-Intermezzo, under the direction of Pablo Moras.
Apart from Ángeles Blancas, the cast for the three performances of Rusalka includes bass Vazgen Gazaryan as Vodník, Rusalka’s father. The role of the prince, Rusalka’s love interest, will be taken on by tenor Rodrigo Porras. Soprano Magdalena Anna Hofmann will portray the foreign princess, who captures the prince’s affections. Mezzo-soprano Adriana Bignagni Lesca will embody Jezibaba, the witch who grants Rusalka’s wish.
The cast is further enriched by three nymphs, played by soprano Julietta Aleksanyan, and mezzos Carmen Artaza and Maria Schellenberg. Baritone Jirí Brückler will embody the roles of hunter and gamekeeper, while mezzo-soprano Nicole Chirka will portray the perceptive kitchen scull.
‘Rusalka’, a three-act opera premiered in 1901, features a libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil, loosely inspired by the fairy tale ‘Undine’ (1811) by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, and draws from ‘The Little Mermaid’ (1837) by Hans Christian Andersen and other European legends. Rusalka remains Dvorák’s most beloved among the ten operas he composed, elevating his international reputation. The opera will be performed in Czech with subtitles in Spanish and English.
Rusalka, a water nymph, pleads with a witch to grant her humanity so she can unite with the prince she loves, at the cost of losing her voice. The tragic conclusion of the opera deviates from the sweeter versions of the same tale, often tailored for younger audiences.
Tickets can be acquired through the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com or at the box office from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Alternatively, bookings can be made via phone at 902 317 327 during the same hours. Discounts are available for students, the unemployed, and large families, alongside a special €5 rate for individuals under 30 years old.
