Scarecrow Press
Pages: 286
Trim: 6 x 9
978-0-8108-8305-5 • Hardback • November 2012 • $115.00 • (£88.00)
978-0-8108-8318-5 • eBook • November 2012 • $109.00 • (£84.00)
A leading expert on Czech vocal music, Timothy Cheek is pianist, vocal coach, and associate professor of performing arts at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater & Dance in Ann Arbor. He is the author of Singing in Czech: A Guide to Czech Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire (2001) and The Janácek Opera Libretti, volumes I (2003) and II (2004), and The Bartered Bride / Prodana nevesta: Performance Guide with Translations and Pronunciation (2010), all published by Scarecrow Press.
Timothy Cheek’s Rusalka is an extraordinary book, highlighted by its extremely ordered details, allowing for instant readability and quick use for studying the Czech language as well as the dramatic and musical interpretation of this incredible work. Who will not be inspired to delve into this fairy tale opera after they have finally been furnished with the tools necessary to do so?
— Mark S. Doss
Timothy Cheek's guide to Rusalka is the gold standard for those studying, performing or just plain interested in this wonderful opera. It is a thoroughly knowledgeable, yet accessible, reference work with the latest phonetic transcription and pronunciation guide, and both literal (word-for-word) and idiomatic translations of the text. His detailed explanation of scenic and interpretative notations, performance practices, idioms and a "quick review sheet of Americanisms" to avoid make this the Bible for preparation of the score. Where was this book when I was preparing to sing this at the Met?!
— Stephen West, University of Michigan, Metropolitan Opera
For those unfamiliar with Dvorák's opera, this performance guide is an excellent introduction to the work; those already having been seduced by the song of the water nymph will welcome Cheek's research and insight into the opera. This volume is highly recommended.
— Journal of Singing