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Opera in the Park
RUSALKA
Antonín DvoÅ™ák's hauntingly beautiful opera Rusalka (1910), is the tale of a water nymph who dreams of becoming human to win the love of a handsome prince. When she makes a fateful pact against the forces of nature, she learns that magic comes with consequences. Closer to Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid than Disney’s, Rusalka tells a darker, more complex story. It’s a cautionary fable, warning that while anything in the realm of enchantment is possible, be very careful what you wish for!
A chamber version tailored for outdoor performances
New English translation
Synopsis:
ACT 1:
Rusalka, a water nymph, has fallen in love with a Prince. She longs to be human to be with him. Her father, Vodník, warns her about the selfishness and frailty of mortals, but Rusalka believes in their capacity for love. Vodník relents when he can’t change her mind and sends her to find Ježibaba, The sorceress. Ježibaba agrees to transform her into a woman, but warns that, as a human, Rusalka will be voiceless and further, if she fails to find love, she will be damned for eternity and her beloved Prince will perish. Vowing that she will give up everything – note that: everything, to be a woman, Rusalka drinks the potion. At dawn, the Prince arrives and, enchanted by her silent beauty, takes her to his castle.
ACT 2:
The Prince and Rusalka prepare to be married even though the Prince struggles with Rusalka’s cold, silence. A Visiting Princess at their wedding mocks Rusalka and scolds the Prince for ignoring his guests. She is determined to win the Prince for herself. The Prince sends Rusalka to prepare for the ball and escorts the Princess to the castle where they dance together.
Rusalka, runs from the castle. She regains her voice and pleads with her father, saying the Prince no longer loves her. The Prince declares his love for the Princess. When Rusalka intervenes, he rejects her. Vodník warns the Prince of his impending demise and vanishes with Rusalka. The Prince asks the Princess for help, but she tells him to follow Rusalka to hell.
ACT 3:
Heartbroken, Rusalka returns to her home. Ježibaba finds her and offers a final chance to save herself – she must kill the Prince. She gives Rusalka an enchanted knife but Rusalka refuses and throws it into the water. The Wood Nymphs enter, singing and dancing, but when Vodník tells them what happened to Rusalka, they stop and disappear.
Desperate and guilty, the Prince searches for Rusalka calling for her to come back to him. Transformed into a wraith, Rusalka emerges from the water and tells him that a kiss from her will kill him. Accepting his fate, he begs her to kiss him to give him peace.
