Dates

2-25 Jun 2023

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

3:05, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

n.a.

Joana Mallwitz

Is a dream worth the ultimate sacrifice?

  • Missed Rusalka? The opera can still be seen online via  Operavision  until 12.00pm on 7 November!

OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. The place to see opera online, OperaVision is a window on the varied landscape of musical theatre for a connected world. More information: operavision.eu

Rusalka
What lengths would you go to find happiness? Directors Philipp Stölzl and Philipp M. Krenn present a young woman on the outskirts of society in their adaptation of the opera. At the cinema, she fantasises about living in the golden heyday of Hollywood, by the side of a handsome movie star. She goes to great lengths to enter this world. But will reality live up to the dream?

Photo: Conductor Joana Mallwitz | © Nikolaj Lund

Is a dream worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Rusalka is Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s most successful opera. 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 is poetic and sensual and full of wonderful sound effects. 

Conductor Joana Mallwitz leads the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and directed by Philipp Stölzl and Philipp M. Krenn, soprano Johanni van Oostrum sings the role of Rusalka. Czech tenor Pavel Černoch sings the role of the prince, and American mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis makes her debut as the witch Ježibaba. A timeless tale of dreams, desire and disappointment.

Performance information

Opera in three acts
Sung in Czech

Libretto  Jaroslav Kvapil

Musical direction  Joana Mallwitz
Stage direction  Philipp Stölzl and Philipp M. Krenn
Lighting design  Philipp Stölzl
Set design  Heike Vollmer, Philipp Stölzl
Costume design  Anke Winckler
Choreography  Juanjo Arqués
Dramaturgy  Simon Berger

Princ (Prince)  Pavel Černoch
Cizí kněžna (Foreign Princess)  Annette Dasch
Rusalka  Johanni van Oostrum
Ježibaba  Raehann Bryce-Davis
Vodník (Water Goblin)  Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev
Kuchtík (Kitchen Boy)  Karin Strobos
Hajný (Gamekeeper)  Erik Slik
Lovec (Hunter)  Georgiy Derbas-Richter*
Lesní žinky (Wood Nymphs)
Inna Demenkova*
Elenora Hu*
Maya Gour*

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Chorus of Dutch National Opera
Chorus master  Edward Ananian-Cooper

* Dutch National Opera Studio

Part of Holland Festival

Online programme

Along with the printed programme book, we also offer online programme information for this performance. The online programme will take you behind the scenes with in-depth stories, articles, and interviews with the creators and cast.

Rusalka
Libej Mne

Five reasons to look forward to Rusalka

Artists
Cast
Annette Dasch
Annette Dasch
Cizí kněžna (Foreign Princess)
read more
Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev
Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev
Vodník (Water Goblin)
read more
Scene Act1
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene Act1
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene act 1
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene 2nd act
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene 2nd act
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene 2nd act
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene 2nd act
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene 2nd act
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
Scene 3rd act
Rusalka | Photo: Clärchen and Matthias Baus
KCO

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

The Royal Concertgebouw has a world-class reputation. In part, it owes this reputation to the distinguished conductors and soloists it has worked with since its founding in 1888. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra performs roughly 120 concerts a year, 80 at the Concertgebouw and 40 at other prestigious concert halls. lt also has access to classical music fans all over the world through videos, streams, radio, TV broadcasts, CDs and DVDs. In addition, the orchestra has its own academy that prepares talented young musicians for a career with a renowned orchestra. lts Concertgebouw Orchestra Young Programme is designed specifically for budding musicians between the ages of 14 and 17 from all over Europe. Dutch National Opera has a long and valuable partnership with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and they will join us this season for Rusalka, under the baton of Joana Mallwitz.

Photo: Simon van Boxtel

Reviews
In the media
4 June

As soon as the curtains open, we step into a visual spectacle. [...] In the end, DNO puts on a convincing new fairy tale with Rusalka. A hopeful proof that it is indeed possible to reinvent opera.

4 June

The sets and blazing playing of the Concertgebouw Orchestra are not to be missed. [...] Visual spectacle, humour, sizzling orchestral playing and good singers: season finisher Rusalka has a lot in it to make it to audience favourite. *** direction and vocals / **** orchestra

5 June

What a spectacular set Dutch National Opera had commissioned for Rusalka. [...] Best of all was American mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis as the witch Jezibaba. A creamy, full voice that was used with great conviction.

Johanni van Oostrum en Pavel Černoch krijgen aanwijzingen van choreograaf Juanjo Arqués
Johanni van Oostrum (Rusalka), Pavel Černoch (prince) and choreographer Juanjo Arqués | Photo: Michel Schnater
Dirigent Joana Malwitz met het Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest
Conductor Joana Malwitz and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra | Photo: Clärchen & Matthias Baus
Pavel Černoch (prins) kust Johanni van Oostrum (Rusalka)
Johanni van Oostrum (Rusalka) and Pavel Černoch (prince) | Photo: Michel Schnater
Inna Demenkova, Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev en Maya Gour tijdens een repetitie
Inna Demenkova (nimph), Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev (Vodník) and Maya Gour (nimph) | Photo: Michel Schnater
Pavel Černoch houdt een bos rode bloemen omhoog
Pavel Černoch (prince) | Photo: Michel Schnater
Pavel Černoch gaat op de knie voor Johanni van Oostrum tijdens een repetitie
Rehearsal Rusalka | Photo: Michel Schnater
Georgiy Derbas-Richter (jager), Pavel Černoch (prins) en Johanni van Oostrum (Rusalka) tijdens een repetitie
Georgiy Derbas-Richter (hunter), Pavel Černoch (prince) and Johanni van Oostrum (Rusalka) | Photo: Michel Schnater
Dirigent Joana Malwitz met het Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest
Conductor Joana Malwitz and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra | Photo: Clärchen & Matthias Baus
Repetitie voor Rusalka: een filmset in Hollywood met een gevel en auto
Rehearsal Rusalka | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Pavel Černoch (prins) en Johanni van Oostrum (Rusalka) tijdens een repetitie
Pavel Černoch (prince) and Johanni van Oostrum (Rusalka) | Photo: Milagro Elstak
Dirigent Joana Mallwitz tijdens een orkestrepetitie
Conductor Joana Mallwitz | Photo: Milagro Elstak

Podcast - Rusalka

Read more
Raehann Bryce-Davis

‘Mezzos often portray disobedient women’

Read more
Johanni van Oostrum

Interview with soprano Johanni van Oostrum about her title role in Rusalka

Read more

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