The water nymph Rusalka lives in a mysterious, haunted world of wood sprites and moonbeams—but she longs for more. When a handsome prince almost drowns in her magic pond, she saves his life. Now smitten, Rusalka begs a witch to make her mortal so she can pursue him.
The spell is cast, but not without a terrible price: Rusalka must give up her voice—and if the prince proves fickle, both their souls are damned! And damned they are, because a jealous foreign princess turns up at their wedding feast, and Rusalka’s prince deserts her for the interloper’s earthy charms.
Shimmering impressionism blends seamlessly with vibrant folk melodies in this exquisite, darkly sensual fairytale.
Elektra, Manon, Julius Caesar, and Billy Budd — Sir David McVicar has given Lyric some of its most memorable productions. Expect another from this extraordinary director.
New Lyric Opera production of Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka generously made possible by The Monument Trust, an Anonymous Donor, Marion A. Cameron, and Sidley Austin LLP, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Starring
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Rusalka
Ana María Martínez
Ana María Martínez and Brandon Jovanovich triumphed in Rusalka at the 2009 Glyndebourne Festival. “When Martínez sings that ‘to suffer is to be alive’—you believe her. An intoxicating composite of Slavic darkness and Latin brilliance.” The Independent, London
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Prince
Brandon Jovanovich
Brandon Jovanovich sings with “visceral excitement…a prince as handsome to hear as he is to look at.” Opera News
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Ježibaba
Jill Grove
As the witch, Jill Grove is a “theatrical and vocal knockout.” (Dallas Morning News)
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Vodnik
Eric Owens
Bass-baritone Eric Owens will bring “clarion tone and endless power” (Boston Globe) as the water spirit Vodnik, Rusalka’s father, who tries in vain to save her.
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Foreign Princess
Ekaterina Gubanova
As the foreign princess Russian star Ekaterina Gubanova mesmerizes with “power and urgency.” Seen and Heard
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Rusalka
Ana María Martínez
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Prince
Brandon Jovanovich
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Ježibaba
Jill Grove
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Vodnik
Eric Owens
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Foreign Princess
Ekaterina Gubanova*
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Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis
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Director
Sir David McVicar
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Set Designer
John Macfarlane
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Costume Designer
Moritz Junge*
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Lighting Designer
David Finn*
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Chorus Master
Michael Black
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Choreographer
Andrew George
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*Lyric Debut
† current member, Ryan Opera Center
† † alumnus/ alumna, Ryan Opera Center