CAST

PRODUCTION TEAM

At the edge of a Florida everglade, the swamp nymph Rusalka falls in love with a human. With the help of a witch, she defies her father—giving up her home, family, and voice to follow her heart and join her prince on dry land. However, she quickly learns that true love can come at a terrible price. 

Opera Orlando will transform the Mayan-inspired Art and History Museums of Maitland for Dvořák’s tragic operatic version of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, Rusalka. With a new English translation for this site-specific production at one of Central Florida’s premier cultural destinations, audiences will experience this dark, romantic work like never before. Central Florida native soprano Shannon Jennings sings the title role, joined by renowned tenor Isaac Hurtado as the Prince, and Metropolitan Opera soprano Emily Pulley as the wise witch Ježibaba. Weaving together this sad tale of sacrifice, love, and rejection will be Company artistic director Grant Preisser, with music direction by international pianist and conductor Bernard McDonald. 

a mythical Florida swamp  |  turn of the 20th-century

ACT I - at the swamp’s edge

The swamp nymph Rusalka has fallen in love with a human, Prince, when he came hunting through the swamp. Now she wants to become human herself and live on land to be with him. Vodník, Rusalka’s father, is horrified and tells her that there is no place for her in the human realm. When Rusalka insists, he says she will have to get help from the witch Ježibaba. Resolved to meet the witch, Rusalka calls on the moon to tell the Prince of her love. 

Ježibaba arrives and agrees to turn Rusalka into a human—but warns her that if she doesn’t find love she will be damned and the man she loves will die. Also, by becoming mortal, she will lose her power of speech. Convinced that her feelings for the Prince can overcome all, Rusalka agrees. Ježibaba gives her a potion to drink and she is transformed. 

Dawn breaks, and the Prince appears with a hunting party to find Rusalka by the lake. Even though she won’t speak to him, he is captivated by her beauty and takes her with him to his plantation. 

– INTERMISSION – 

ACT II - the garden of Prince’s plantation

At Prince’s plantation, the Gamekeeper talks about the approaching wedding of Prince and his strange silent bride. Prince enters with Rusalka, and he wonders why she is so cold toward him but remains determined to win her. Meanwhile, Esmerelda, Prince’s old flame, has come for the wedding, and mocks Rusalka’s silence, reproaching Prince for ignoring her and the other guests. Prince sends Rusalka away to dress for the ball and escorts Esmerelda into the hall for the beginning of the festivities.

In the deserted garden, Vodník appears and Rusalka rushes to him in tears. Suddenly recovering her voice, she begs her father to help her, telling him that Prince no longer loves her. Prince and Esmerelda come into the garden, and Prince confesses his love for her, not Rusalka. When Rusalka intervenes, he rejects her. Vodník warns Prince of the fate that awaits him, then disappears taking Rusalka with him. Prince asks Esmerelda for help, but she ridicules him, telling him to follow his bride into hell.

– INTERMISSION – 

ACT III - back at the swamp’s edge

Rusalka waits at the swamp, lamenting her fate once again. Ježibaba appears and hands her a knife, explaining that the only way to save herself is to kill Prince. Rusalka refuses, throwing the weapon into the water. When her sisters reject her as well, she leaves in despair. The Gamekeeper arrives to ask Ježibaba for help. Prince, they say, has been bewitched by a strange wood girl he was going to marry. Enraged, Vodník rises from the swamp, saying that it was the Prince who deceived Rusalka. Terrified, he runs away.

Prince, desperate and half crazy with remorse, emerges from the forest, looking for Rusalka and calling out for her to return to him. She appears, and reproaches him for his infidelity, and explains that now a kiss from her would kill him. Yearning for peace, he asks her to kiss him. She does, and he dies in her arms. Rusalka asks for mercy on his soul and disappears heartbroken into the water.

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