Rusalka Performance Guide With Translations And Pronunciation

Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka is a beautiful and haunting opera that tells the story of a water nymph who falls in love with a human prince. The opera is full of gorgeous music and complex characters, and it is a popular choice for opera companies around the world.

If you are planning to perform Rusalka, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know, including:

Rusalka: A Performance Guide with Translations and Pronunciation

by Timothy Cheek

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	24983 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages

FREE

• A synopsis of the opera
• A character guide
• A translation of the Czech libretto
• A pronunciation guide for the Czech words
• Tips on how to perform the opera

Synopsis

Rusalka tells the story of a water nymph who falls in love with a human prince. The prince, however, is already engaged to a human princess. Rusalka is heartbroken, and she asks the witch Ježibaba to help her become human. Ježibaba agrees, but she warns Rusalka that if she becomes human, she will lose her voice and she will not be able to return to the water. Rusalka agrees to these terms, and Ježibaba transforms her into a human.

Rusalka then goes to the prince's castle, where she is immediately noticed by the prince. The prince falls in love with Rusalka, and they are married. However, Rusalka's happiness is short-lived. The prince eventually tires of her, and he begins to neglect her. Rusalka is heartbroken, and she eventually drowns herself in the lake.

Character Guide

• Rusalka: A water nymph who falls in love with a human prince.
• The Prince: A human prince who falls in love with Rusalka.
• The Princess: The prince's fiancée.
• Ježibaba: A witch who helps Rusalka become human.
• The Wood Nymphs: Rusalka's sisters.
• The Water Goblins: Rusalka's father and brother.

Translation of the Czech Libretto

The following is a translation of the Czech libretto of Rusalka. The translation is by Otakar Kraus, and it is published by Boosey & Hawkes.

Act 1

Scene 1

A forest glade by a lake. Rusalka is sitting on a rock, combing her hair.

Rusalka

Oh, how I love this forest glade,

Where the trees whisper secrets

And the flowers bloom in the sun.

I am so happy here,

With my sisters, the wood nymphs,

And my father, the water goblin.

But I am lonely sometimes,

And I long for something more.

I long for a human lover,

Who will take me away from this place

And show me the world.

The prince enters the forest glade. He is lost and alone.

The Prince

I am lost and alone in this forest.

Rusalka: A Performance Guide with Translations and Pronunciation

by Timothy Cheek

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	24983 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages

FREE