The author of the libretto, Jaroslav Kvapil, drew inspiration for Rusalka from, among other things, the harsh fairy tale The Little Mermaid by H. Ch. Andersen.
Dvořák’s well-known melodies and the story of Rusalka are permeated by a dark and deep atmosphere, revealing the hidden layers of the characters. Radok’s directorial vision brought human tragedy and conflict to the forefront, showcased by brilliant performances by Jana Šrejma Kačírková as Rusalka and Peter Berger as the Prince.
“The way the fairy tale communicates with the audience is similar to the logic of a dream. In a dream, realistic things happen, only the context in which they take place is always shifted somewhere else. The dream and the fairy tale work with different approaches to reality, with elements that are not logically compatible in normal life, but here they work quite naturally.” says director David Radok.
The opera will be performed as part of the Festival Janáček Brno on 23 November 2024 at 19:00 at the Janáček Theatre. Tickets can be purchased here.