Rusalka

Rusalka is Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s most successful opera and it continues to be immensely popular to this day. Its highlight is often considered to be the wistful, haunting ‘Song to the moon’, in which Rusalka asks the moon to reveal her love to the prince. Dvořák’s composition is achingly stunning, its sound poetic and sensual, creating musical effects that evoke the beauty of nature, while embodying an ethereal quality reminiscent of nymphs and water sprites.

Highly-anticipated debut

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra performs Dvořák’s gripping score under the baton of conductor Joana Mallwitz, who will be making her long-awaited debut at Dutch National Opera. She will be working with a phenomenal cast of artists, who have been widely praised for their vocal and acting abilities alike. South African soprano Johanni van Oostrum, Czech tenor Pavel Černoch and German soprano Annette Dasch will all be returning to Dutch National Opera after having starred in lead roles over the past few seasons. They will be joined by a fast-rising opera star, American mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis, who will be making her debut in Amsterdam in the role of Jezibaba.

Director Philipp Stölzl, who is having a flourishing career in film as well as opera, presents a new reading of this dark fairy tale about the ill-fated water nymph. His Rusalka will centre on a trans woman who is hoping to make her mark in Hollywood – the land of make believe. Here too cruelty and rejection await Rusalka.