Rusalka (opera): Difference between revisions

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:''For an opera of the same name by [[Alexander Dargomyzhsky]], see [[Rusalka (Dargomyzhsky)]]''.

'''''Rusalka''''' is an [[opera]] by [[Antonín Dvořák]]. The [[Czech language|Czech]] [[libretto]] was written by the poet [[Jaroslav Kvapil]] (1868-1950) based on the fairy tales of [[Karel JaromirJaromír Erben]] and [[Bozena Nemcova|Božena Němcová]]; a [[Slavic fairies#Rusalka|rusalka]] is a water [[sprite (creature)|sprite]] of [[Slavic creatures of folklore|Slavic mythology]], usually inhabiting a lake or river. The opera was first performed in [[Prague]] on [[31 March]] [[1901]], with [[Růžena Maturová,]] Theas Firstthe first Rusalka]].

Kvapil's libretto, based on Erben's and Božena Němcová's work, was written before he had any contact with the composer. The plot contains elements which also appear in ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'' by [[Hans Christian Andersen]] and in ''[[Undine (novella)|Undine]]'' by [[Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué]]. The libretto was completed by 1899, when Kvapil began looking for interested composers. His composer friends were engaged on other projects, but mentioned that Dvořák was looking for a project. The composer, always interested in Erben's stories, read the libretto and composed his opera quite rapidly, with the first draft begun on [[22 April]] [[1900]] and completed by the end of November. After its premierepremière the next year, it became an enormous success in Czech lands, though less so elsewhere.

Rusalka's "Song to the Moon" ("Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém") is the opera's best-known [[aria]]. It is one of [[Renee Fleming]]'s signature arias, and she stars in a performance on DVD with the [[Opéra de Paris]]. Another recording available on DVD stars Eilene Hannan as Rusalka, John Treleaven, as the Prince, Rodney Macann, Wassermann,as Rusalka's father and Ann Howard, as the witch, performed in englishEnglish by the [[English National Opera]]. [[Sarah Brightman]] performed the aria, adapted into [[Italian language|Italian]] as "La Luna," on her [[La Luna (album)|album]] for 2000.

== Roles ==