More than anything in the world Rusalka a mysterious and elusive water nymph yearns to become human to win the heart of a young prince But this metamorphosis comes at a price she will lose her voice and be damned forever should their love story fail Rusalka a lyrical fairy tale inspired by The Little Mermaid and Undine is Dvořáks penultimate work and one of his greatest successes In Opera Ballet Vlaanderens production Norwegian director and choreographer Alan Lucien Øyen adds a new dimension to this masterpiece of the Czech repertoire by representing the main characters on stage twice by a singer and a dancer This doubling reinforces the operas deeply dreamlike nature The impressive South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza embodies the character of Rusalka while the Lithuanian conductor Giedré Šlekytė leads the orchestra with brio and intensity
