In the title role, soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen made an outstanding role debut.

Parterre Box

In the title role, soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen made an outstanding role debut. Since four years ago, when she made her house debut as Eva Pogner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, her voice has grown rounder, fuller and even darker. Dressed in white with raven hair, her Rusalka in Act one was imbued with a sense of determination and urgency, particularly in the famous “Song of the Moon” that she sang climbing on branches. I thought she acted splendidly in the character’s silent scenes, both with her doe-eyed expression and with body language; I truly empathized with her plight. The final duet with Brandon Jovanovich as the Prince was truly ravishing in its intensity.