Dates

2-25 Jun 2023

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

3:05, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

From € 28

Joana Mallwitz

Is a dream worth the ultimate sacrifice?

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 fairy tale. 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 and tells a fairy tale very similar to Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. 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

Lyrical fairy tale 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

This production of Rusalka contains explicit scenes of drug use, sex, and violence. Dutch National Opera & Ballet recommends that visitors be at least 16 years old for this performance.

Change in box office opening hours

Please note our box office opening hours have changed as of 1 March 2023.

Five reasons to look forward to Rusalka

Ticket prices

Check out the ticket prices per price category via the link below.

Ticket prices

We offer discounts for specific groups in order to make our performances accessible to everyone. Check this page to see if you are eligible for a discount.

Price
category
Standard CJP | City Pass | 
Youth up to 16
1st € 158,00 € 143,00 
2nd € 131,00  € 116,00
3rd € 102,00 € 90,00
4th € 81,00 € 73,00
5th € 55,00 € 46,00
6th € 28,00 € 22,00

Dutch National Opera & Ballet works with a system of dynamic pricing: during the booking period the ticket prices may increase, depending on demand. Prices exclude € 2,00 booking fee per ticket.

Student discount and Student Alert
When a performance is not sold out, students can buy tickets on the day from 1pm for only €19 - regardless of which price category is ordered. Don't forget to bring your college card to be checked at the door.

For some productions a Student Alert is given. This allows you to book earlier than on the day with student discounts. If you want to sign up for these Student Alerts, check here.

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Artists
Cast
Annette Dasch
Annette Dasch
Cizí kněžna (Foreign Princess)
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Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev
Maxim Kuzmin-Karavaev
Vodník (Water Goblin)
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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
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
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
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

Introduction

Almost every performance at Dutch National Opera & Ballet is preceded by an introduction, with background information that can deepen your theatre visit. The introductions are in Dutch and admission is free by showing a valid ticket.

Introduction Rusalka by: Laura Roling, Hein van Eekert (17 and 25 June)
Time: 45 minutes before the start of each performance
Location: Odeonzaal

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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