'Nymphs in knickers' met with boos from Opera House audience

 
'Unappealing': ROH's production of Rusalka was booed by the audience due to the 'charity shop' costumes
Emer Martin10 April 2012

A production of a Dvorak opera performed in "charity shop" skimpy outfits was met with boos at Covent Garden.

Rusalka - a "playful" take on The Little Mermaid, written in 1901 - is set in a seedy backstreet with characters dressed in little more than underwear.

Christine Hodgson, 50, who was at the Royal Opera House last night, said: "It's not the first time I've seen a modern production, but this is the first time I have ever heard the designers being booed by the whole House.

"The prince took off his wedding outfit and changed into an unappealing T-shirt. It was almost as if they went to a charity shop and found whatever they could."

Evening Standard opera critic Barry Millington said: "You don't often get booing like that in Covent Garden these days."

Kasper Holten, Director of Opera at the ROH, said: "There were people booing the production team, but also people shouting bravo at the same time."

Rusalka's directors are Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito and the designer is Barbara Ehnes.

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