Song to the moon "Rusalka" Synopsis and Commentary (Dvorak)

Song to the moon "Rusalka" Synopsis and Commentary (Dvorak)

1)

First performance 31 March 1901, Prague National Theatre.

Script by Jaroslav Kvapil.

This opera is two h 30 mins.

Rusalka is an opera by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904).

Dvořák is best known for his Symphony No. 9, From the New World, but he also composed operas.

The opera is sung in Czech, the language of his homeland.

The song "Ode to the Moon," sung in the first act, is known beyond the opera as a masterpiece and has been arranged for many instruments, including the violin.

2)

Main characters:

Rusalka (soprano)

Prince (tenor)

Foreign princess (soprano)

Water nymph (bass)

Witch (mezzo-soprano)

3)

Act 1: 'Rusalka.'

Rusalka wants to be human.

In a meadow by the lake, where the moon shines

Three forest nymphs are dancing.

Then the father (a water nymph) appears and tries to catch the fairies from his daughters.

The daughters leave, teasing their father.

When the daughters leave, Rusalka tells her father (the water nymph) that she wants to leave the water country and become human.

It was because she fell in love with a human prince.

Her father is saddened and leaves.

Rusalka sings her love song to the moon alone. (Song to the Moon/Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém)

Gabriela Beňačková - RUSALKA in MET 1993 - Song to the Moon (Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sup5Fn47qYQ

4)

In exchange for her voice, Rusalka becomes human.

Rusalka visits the witch and asks her to "make me human." She asks to be made human.

The witch replies: "Give me your voice in exchange for becoming human." Rusalka becomes human.

Rusalka becomes human, and her father mourns.

The Prince falls in love with Rusalka.

The Prince appears with the hunter.

Eventually, the hunter leaves, and Rusalka appears.

Rusalka is barefoot and dressed in skimpy grey clothes.

The Prince sings of her beauty to Rusalka, who does not open her mouth. (Vidino divná, přesladká)

Pavol Breslik - Dvorak's Rusalka - Aria of Prince

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KZaxGSlqu0

Instead, Rusalka jumps into the Prince's chest.

The Prince takes Rusalka with him while the spirits worry about their lovely sister's loss (Rusalka).

5)

Act 2: 'Rusalka.'

Prince's change of heart

The gardens of the Prince's castle

The woodsman and the cook gossip about a marriage between the Prince and a dumb woman (Rusalka).

They leave as the Prince and Rusalka appear there.

The Prince laments to Rusalka: 'I have been here a week; why is your embrace so cold and your passion so repulsive?'

Then a princess appears, invited from another country, and seduces the Prince.

The Prince's heart swings towards the princess.

Furthermore, the princess says to the mute Rusalka, "Can you speak with your eyes?" in a nasty tone.

Rusalka is distraught and grabs the Prince's hand, but the Prince says coldly, "Go and get ready for the ball." Rusalka coldly dismisses him.

The Prince leaves with the princess.

The ball begins.

The water nymphs emerge from the pond to watch the ball and mourn for poor Rusalka. (Celý svět nedá ti, nedá)

Dvorak's Rusalka Watersprite's Aria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjtkj0GkCMI

6)

Rusalka asks the water nymph for help.

At the ball, the Prince deals with the princess and shows no interest in Rusalka.

Rusalka comes out of the hall in despair.

There, the water nymph encourages Rusalka.

Rusalka tells the water nymph, "I cannot be a human wife or a fairy; I cannot live or die." She laments and asks for help. (Ó marno, marno, marno to je)

Dvorak - Renée Fleming & Christian Benda, "O marno, o marno to je"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBSIPw7B7uM

7)

The water nymph drags Rusalka into the pond.

There the Prince and princess appear.

The Prince proposes to the princess.

Rusalka, who has been hiding, is desperate and upset and jumps into the Prince's arms.

The Prince is surprised by her icy-cold arms and shoves Rusalka away.

Then a water nymph appears and drags Rusalka into the pond.

The Prince is terrified by the mysterious force and asks the princess for help.

The princess laughs and leaves, saying, "Go to hell."

8)

Act 3: 'Rusalka.'

Rusalka returns home and grieves.

Meadow by the lake, same as in Act 1.

Rusalka returns to her homeland and grieves that she is cursed. (Mladosti své pozbavena)

Rusalka consults a witch.

The witch tells her that she needs the blood of a prince to lift the curse. (Mladosti své pozbavena).

The witch gives Rusalka a knife, but Rusalka, "still in love with the prince," throws the knife into the lake.

The fairies sing, "Cursed sister, you must not come down here."

The forest guard and the cook then visit the witch.

They tell the witch that 'the prince is very ill because of the fairies' magic.' They tell her that the Prince is very ill because of the magic of the fairies.

Then the water nymph appears and rages, "It is the prince who has betrayed us." The forest guard and the cook are horrified.

The forester and the cook flee in fear.

9)

The Prince appears, realizing that he "loves Rusalka."

While the water nymphs lament, the Prince appears in confusion.

The Prince realizes he "loves Rusalka" and looks around for her. (Bílá moje lani!).

The kiss kills the Prince, and Rusalka disappears.

Then Rusalka appears.

The kiss between the Prince and Rusalka represents "his death," but the Prince still asks Rusalka to kiss him.

Rusalka embraces and kisses the Prince, and the Prince loses his life.

As the water nymphs mourn, Rusalka kisses the dead Prince and disappears into the lake water.