Opera in Prague : Dvorak's Rusalka or Puccini's Tosca
 

Hi

I am heading to Prague in late May this year and still cannot decide between Dvorak's Rusalka or Puccini's Tosca? I only have two nights in Prague and only one Opera to fit in!

Appreciate your best recommendation.

Thanks
Elaine

If you are not familiar with either, see if you can find some excerpts online or a recording at your local library. Rusalka is a Czech opera and is not performed all that often outside of Europe, while Tosca is performed frequently. These are very different operas, and its hard to say which you would enjoy more.

You like dramatic endings? Tosca, for sure.

The best part of Rusalka (IMO) is the Song to the Moon, and there's so much more to enjoy about Tosca (musically); I'd pick Puccini any day, no hesitation.

Another vote for Tosca.

yes Tosca - and the Prague opera house is lovely, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Stalls seats are great - if you go for a box make sure that you are at the front because the view from the rear seats can be very restricted. also the view from boxes at the side, even in the front row, can be limited, because of the angle to the stage.

If you have no preference, it's hard to say what you might prefer. I would definitely choose Rusalka as nobody does it as well as Czechs IMO. I just think there is some merit to attending performances related to the culture and place you are going, also.

I realize if you have never seen either it can be a difficult decision. For some of us, opera is all about "drama" and if you love melodic music, Mr. Puccini is hard to beat. And when you have an opera <B>about</B> an opera singer, well...

if you want something of the local culture, you might see if there's a concert on at the municipal Hall, and/or go to Dvorak's house. both very good.

http://www.obecnidum.cz/concerts/1404042296.html

http://www.antonindvorak2004.cz/engl...a-dvoraka.html

Nice restaurants in the municipal Hall too.

Tosca for sure! Tosca was the first opera I attended and the performance sold me on opera which is one of the real joys of my life.

Thank you everyone! Tosca it is!! Plus, the date of the show is just perfect, being our last evening in Prague before we head off on the Orient Express for the final journey into Paris. A 'dramatic end to our stay in Prague, it shall be!! :) Thank you so much again!

Elaine x

Rusalka is an enormous part of Czech culture for educated Czechs… and is actually wonderful classical music. I couldn't imagine going to Prague and hearing Tosca instead of Dvorak!

As Michael_Prague said! You can hear Tosca everywhere in the world, wonderful as it is, it is performed over and over again. Dvorak is not on the schedule very often. Hearing a Czech opera from the best-known Czech composer (sorry Mr. Janacek and others) in Prague would be something special. I would pick Rusalka.