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| Royal Opera House shrugs off first-night catcalls | Royal Opera House shrugs off first-night catcalls |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Royal Opera House has shrugged off the boos and walkouts that greeted a modern-dress staging of a Dvorak work. | The Royal Opera House has shrugged off the boos and walkouts that greeted a modern-dress staging of a Dvorak work. |
| "It is OK to have divided opinion when you try to move the boundaries," said director of opera Kasper Holten. | "It is OK to have divided opinion when you try to move the boundaries," said director of opera Kasper Holten. |
| The decision to set Rusalka - a version of The Little Mermaid - in a brothel populated by provocatively dressed prostitutes perplexed some critics. | The decision to set Rusalka - a version of The Little Mermaid - in a brothel populated by provocatively dressed prostitutes perplexed some critics. |
| "Girls run around in their scanties... and it's all quite nasty," wrote Rupert Christiansen in the Daily Telegraph. | "Girls run around in their scanties... and it's all quite nasty," wrote Rupert Christiansen in the Daily Telegraph. |
| "Imported from the Salzburg Festival, it is a prime example of the pompous intellectualism which now dominates eurozone theatre." | "Imported from the Salzburg Festival, it is a prime example of the pompous intellectualism which now dominates eurozone theatre." |
| His sentiments were echoed by The Guardian's Andrew Clements, who called the production "an unedifying exercise in postmodern, operatic grunge". | His sentiments were echoed by The Guardian's Andrew Clements, who called the production "an unedifying exercise in postmodern, operatic grunge". |
| The Times' Richard Morrison also expressed reservations, describing the staging as "crass, profoundly anti-musical and... mind-numbingly tedious". | The Times' Richard Morrison also expressed reservations, describing the staging as "crass, profoundly anti-musical and... mind-numbingly tedious". |
| First staged in 1901, Rusalka tells of a water nymph in love with a prince who gives up her voice in order to be human. | First staged in 1901, Rusalka tells of a water nymph in love with a prince who gives up her voice in order to be human. |
| It is often likened to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Little Mermaid, famously turned into a film by the Walt Disney studio in 1989. | It is often likened to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Little Mermaid, famously turned into a film by the Walt Disney studio in 1989. |
| In a statement, Mr Holten admitted there had been some booing on Monday night but said there had been "people shouting bravo at the same time". | In a statement, Mr Holten admitted there had been some booing on Monday night but said there had been "people shouting bravo at the same time". |
| "This is not uncommon in opera," said the Danish director, who was appointed last year. | "This is not uncommon in opera," said the Danish director, who was appointed last year. |
| According to Mr Holten, the production of Rusalka - first presented at Salzburg in 2008 - "does not try to pretend [it] is just a pretty innocent story". | According to Mr Holten, the production of Rusalka - first presented at Salzburg in 2008 - "does not try to pretend [it] is just a pretty innocent story". |
| "It shows us that a fairy tale can also be about the darker aspects of life, and for me it highlights the pain and longing in the piece," he continued. | "It shows us that a fairy tale can also be about the darker aspects of life, and for me it highlights the pain and longing in the piece," he continued. |
| "We hope audiences will bring along their curiosity and expect to be surprised and challenged, made to think about new aspects of this well-known story." | "We hope audiences will bring along their curiosity and expect to be surprised and challenged, made to think about new aspects of this well-known story." |
| The critics were more complimentary to other aspects of the production. Christiansen, for example, applauded Camilla Nylund's "committed performance" in the title role. | The critics were more complimentary to other aspects of the production. Christiansen, for example, applauded Camilla Nylund's "committed performance" in the title role. |
| Morrison, meanwhile, found US tenor Bryan Hymel "fervent and impressive" as the Prince and praised the music's "sensuous sweep". | |
| Mr Holten said the Royal Opera House was "proud to be presenting such a wonderful cast... who all wholeheartedly believe in and support the production". | Mr Holten said the Royal Opera House was "proud to be presenting such a wonderful cast... who all wholeheartedly believe in and support the production". |
| Five additional performances of Rusalka are planned between now and 14 March. | Five additional performances of Rusalka are planned between now and 14 March. |