Streams und Videos-on-Demand: Rusalka

The water nymph Rusalka longs for life above the water, for love and a human soul. The witch knows the way, but the price is high. Rusalka loses her ability to speak but what good is speech when for her beloved prince she is just a wave on the water. Above the surface, the world of men turns out to be cruel and full of betrayal, over which even her pure love cannot prevail.

Since its premiere in 1901, Dvořák’s Rusalka has been one of the most beloved and most performed Czech operas, not only thanks to its beautiful music but also Jaroslav Kvapil’s poetic and richly symbolic libretto. This lyrical fairy tale is a fateful drama about unfulfilled desires and human failure, about the contradictory conflict between love and erotic desire, a drama about the sinful human soul. OperaVision streams live the premiere of National Theatre Brno’s new production is directed by David Radok. Based on Lars-Åke Thessman’s original set design for Rusalka at the Gothenburg Opera 2012, we can expect a multi-layered production full of strong emotions.