The water nymph Rusalka wants nothing more than to live on land with the Prince. To get her wish, she agrees to a fateful spell by a witch. In Dvořák’s hands, the timeless fairy tale of a woman who trades her voice for love is rendered in a powerful, otherworldly fable—a drama of shadowy depths, fervent love songs and endings that may not be what they seem.

Conductor: Charles Mackerras

December 1995

Overture

Rusalka’s motif Act 1

Rusalka’s motif Act 3

“Hou, hou, hou”: Nicolle Foland, Kristin Clayton, Pamela Dillard

Song to the Moon: Renée Fleming

Act 2 ballet

“Proč volal jsi mne”: Renée Fleming

“Líbej mne, líbej mír přej!”: William Burden

Act 3 finale