What drew you to the character of Rusalka?

Eleanor: She doesn’t flinch away from the heart of the truth. She owns her decisions and always chooses love. In a hopeless situation she is a hero, who through her actions teaches us the essence of being human. 

What’s your favourite part of collaborating with a new cast and creative team?

Eleanor: Discovering the unique talents that the cast and creative team bring to the table. I am constantly in awe of what colleagues think up and are capable of. That unique mix only lives for the duration of the run- never to be repeated. 

Rusalka features the iconic aria “Song to the Moon”. How does it feel to perform?

Eleanor: The fact it is iconic makes it a huge responsibility… but when inhabiting the character fully, I forget about the technical feat and the aria becomes like slipping into a luxurious bath. It is expansive, sensual and enveloping. One feels good after both! 

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, how do you balance the storyline resemblances with the dark elements of the opera? 

Eleanor: The darker elements come from the Slavic folklore that Dvorak loved and explored in his many operas and symphonies that came before Rusalka. They remind us that choices have real and irrevocable consequences- in Rusalka’s case eternal solitude. The tragedy of  Rusalka has a Romeo and Juliet-like mis-timing that expresses the Slavic suffering; life isn’t always a Hollywood Fairytale and sometimes there isn’t a happy ending…

When you’re not performing, what’s your go-to way to relax and recharge?

Eleanor: I love to cook- including new recipes. I love Japanese, Indian and French food. I also enjoy sewing, which leads me to many interesting fabric shops all over the world where I’m performing. Unfortunately I don’t often get to the actual sewing part, and my fabric stash grows to my husband’s dismay!

Rusalka will be Opera Queensland’s debut in QPAC’s new Glasshouse Theatre. Does a new space inform the way you approach a character? 

Eleanor: When I sang Fidelio at the Dresden Semperoper, the air was thick with history. Many Strauss and Wagner operas premiered there conducted by the composers themselves… the best singers and musicians of all time had sung on that stage and psychologically it weighs on one’s mind! I’m really looking forward to investing this new space with my voice and enjoying the freedom it brings.

What do you hope audiences take away from Rusalka?

Eleanor: Firstly I hope they enjoy the beautiful, ingenious music. I hope through our opera they will experience that pleasure (love) and pain (loss and betrayal) are not mutually exclusive. We can inhabit both fully at the same time. In other words, “It’s better to have loved and lost than never loved at all”.

Anything you are excited to do when visiting Brisbane?

Eleanor: We have two daughters who are 4 and 9 who love Bluey… So of course Bluey’s House is a must for us. Our little arts company will present our first concert in Brisbane featuring French pianist Lucas de Bargue at the Brisbane Town Hall on the 28th May so I’m also excited for that!