Opera: Rusalka

by Antonín Dvořák
Teatro di San Carlo, Naples 2024-11-20 ... 2024-12-07

The Teatro San Carlo in Naples opens its 2024/25 opera season with Antonín Dvořák’s enchanting masterpiece, “Rusalka.” Under the skilled baton of conductor Dan Ettinger, this production promises to captivate audiences with its hauntingly beautiful music and dramatic narrative. Renowned stage director and set designer Dmitri Tcherniakov brings his visionary approach to the production, creating a mesmerizing world that blends fantasy with reality. The stunning costumes designed by Elena Zaytseva add to the visual splendor, enhancing the ethereal atmosphere of the opera.

“Rusalka” tells the poignant tale of a water nymph who falls in love with a human prince, a story that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the yearning for a different existence. Dvořák’s lush, lyrical score, including the famous “Song to the Moon,” will be brought to life by a talented cast and the exceptional orchestra of the Teatro San Carlo. This opening night promises to be an unforgettable experience, marking the beginning of a season filled with extraordinary performances. Join us for a night of magic and music at one of the world’s most prestigious opera houses.

Travel Package Teatro San Carlo Naples

Music trip to Naples for 3 days / 2 nights with premium tickets for the opera Rusalka at the Teatro San Carlo Naples. The travel package includes 3 days with 2 nights in one of our selected hotels in Naples and is put together according to your wishes. You can choose between the Essential and Superior packages, request additional nights, and a subsequent program to explore Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Italy

The San Carlo Theater was built in 1737 and is the oldest opera house in the world. The Italian opera temple San Carlo is a symbol of the city of Naples. Enjoy our music package with a magnificent performance and an exclusive leisure program in Naples. You can select between the essential package and add individual services that we offer with the superior program.
The highlight is an opera or ballet at the famous Teatro San Carlo.

The Story of Rusalka

The nymph Rusalka is the main character in the lyrical fairy tale. She longs for love and allows herself to be transformed into a human by a witch. In the process, Rusalka loses her voice and remains mute. The prince meets Rusalka while hunting and the two fall in love, but the nymph is not made for human love and the prince finds other amusements.

The fairy tale ends tragically, as Rusalka cannot transform back into a mermaid and the prince dies from her kiss.

Premiered in 1901 at the National Theatre in Prague, Rusalka is one of Antonín Dvořák’s most celebrated operas, marking a pinnacle of his compositional career. With a libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil, based on the Slavic legend of a water nymph who longs to become human, the opera explores themes of unattainable love, sacrifice, and the pain of being torn between two worlds. The opera’s most famous aria, “Song to the Moon,” has become a staple in the soprano repertoire, symbolizing the yearning and emotional depth of the title character.
While initially overshadowed by Dvořák’s symphonic works, Rusalka has gained widespread acclaim over the years and is now performed regularly in major opera houses worldwide. Its blend of folkloric elements, Wagnerian influences, and Dvořák’s signature melodic gift makes Rusalka a unique and moving piece of musical drama. The work continues to captivate modern audiences with its lush orchestration and the timelessness of its central story—a poignant reflection on the human condition, love, and loss.

The Artists and Creative Team

Lyric fairy tale in three acts
Music by Antonín Dvořák

Libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil

New Production of Teatro di San Carlo

Conductor • Dan Ettinger
Stage Director and Setting Design • Dmitri Tcherniakov
Costume Design • Elena Zaytseva
Lighting • Gleb Filshtinsky
Dramaturgy • Tatiana Vereshagina

Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro di San Carlo
Chorus Master • Fabrizio Cassi

Cast

Princ / The Prince • Adam Smith
Cizí kněžna / The foreign Princess • Ekaterina Gubanova
Rusalka, water nymph • Asmik Grigorian
Vodník (Ondin), water spirit • Gabor Bretz
Ježibaba, the witch • Anita Rachvelishvili
Hajný / The game wardner • Peter Hoare
Kuchtík / The scullion • Maria Riccarda Wesseling
1. lesní žínka / First Wood Spirit • Julietta Aleksanyan
2. lesní žínka / Second Wood Spirit • Iulia Maria Dan
3. lesní žínka / Third Wood Spirit • Valentina Pluzhnikova
Lovec / The hunter • Andrey Zhilikhovsky

Booking Process

Music trip to Naples for 3 days / 2 nights with premium tickets for the opera “Rusalka”. The highlight is a visit to the famous Teatro San Carlo on the second evening to experience a magnificent performance in a world-famous environment with global stars. You can select between Essential and Superior Package.

Each travel package will be composed according to your wishes. Follow the booking process:

Select a Date
Press “Add to cart” and “Send Request”
When we receive your booking request, you will get an individual offer with some hotels to choose from. Only after your decision, we send you a travel contract to confirm the booking.
Description of the Essential and Superior Package