Opera “Rusalka”

The opera is woven around Rusalka, a water nymph who, in love with a human prince, wishes to transform herself into a woman. Inspired by the magic of the night and the “Song to the Moon”, she seeks the help of a witch and accepts a harsh bargain: to gain human form in exchange for losing her voice. Although the prince initially falls in love with her, her inability to speak and her distant behaviour lead him to pull away, leaving Rusalka trapped between two worlds, no longer belonging to either.

Christof Loy’s staging, starring Asmik Grigorian and Piotr Beczala, places Rusalka in the surreal setting of a theatre foyer, symbolising her isolation and conflict. Surrounded by figures who remain anchored in their memories, the protagonist longs to escape in order to discover new ways of interpreting reality. This reinterpretation of “Rusalka”, in collaboration with prestigious opera houses in Europe, offers a contemporary and psychologically profound approach that explores the challenges of communication and the limits of desire and belonging.