Rusalka
- Genre
- Opera
- Date
- Nov 21, 2026 - Jan 10, 2027
- Stage
- Storan
- Price
- 255 - 985 kr
In a dreamlike meeting between reality and myth a story unfolds about loneliness and belonging-love and sacrifice. Two of Sweden’s foremost opera singers, Matilda Sterby and Joachim Bäckström, take on the leading roles in this poetic production of Antonín Dvořák’s late Romantic masterpiece.
Dvořák’s opera tells the story of the water nymph Rusalka, who falls in love with a prince. To be with him she turns to a witch who helps her become human, but at a terribly high cost.
If this sounds familiar, it is because it is essentially the same story as H.C. Andersen’s fairy tale The Little Mermaid. Inspiration was also drawn from other stories on the same theme, and from Slavic folklore. Like so many fairy tales this tale carries a moral warning: Be careful what you wish for!
Modern myth
Our version of the opera is told as a modern myth set in an environment inspired by the coastal regions of Louisiana in the southern United States. There Rusalka and the Prince live near each other but inhabit completely different worlds.
She lives under modest circumstances in the swamplands, where nature is constantly threatening to take over. Moisture, heat, and saltwater lead everything to be consumed by rust, mold, and vegetation.
He lives in a luxury apartment in the coastal city, where skyscrapers and luxury yachts line up in rows. Shellfish, champagne, and extravagant parties are part of everyday life.
Rusalka sees the Prince from a distance and falls deeply in love. She is prepared to sacrifice a lot to become part of his modern, beautiful world. But in her naïve longing for belonging she does not see how much the Prince’s love will truly cost her.
Enchantingly beautiful
The libretto for the opera was written by Jaroslav Kvapil, who found the inspiration for the story during a trip to Bornholm. Through the director of the National Theatre in Prague, the text ended up with Antonín Dvořák, who set it to music in 1900.
The music ranges from tender to dramatic. It is enchantingly beautiful with lavish orchestration and elements of impressionistic notes, expressionistic gestures, and Slavic folk music. The most famous section is Rusalka’s aria Song to the Moon, often performed in concert.
Our production is directed by the Irish director Orpha Phelan, known to our audience for her fine stagings of La bohème, Jenůfa, The Tales of Hoffmann, and Fiddler on the Roof.
Premiere | Nov 21 2026 |
|---|---|
| Plays until | 10 Jan 2027 |
| Stage | Storan |
| Langugage | Czech, with Swedish and English surtitles |
| Duration | Approx. 2 hours 50 minutes including interval |
| Age | Recommended from 11 years |
| Surtitle Screen | Lower edge of the stage |
Audio Description | Dec 6, 2026 Book |
Wheelchair Seating | Book via bokning@malmoopera.se |
Creators
Libretto
Jaroslav Kvapil
Music
Antonín Dvořák
Creative Team
Conductor
Daniel Carter
Director
Orpha Phelan
Set Design
Madeleine Boyd
Costume & Makeup Design
Madeleine Boyd
Lighting Design
Matthew Haskins
Cast
Rusalka
Matilda Sterby
The Prince
Joachim Bäckström
Vodník, the Water Goblin
Alexander Roslavets
Ježibaba
Katarina Karnéus
The Foreign Princess
Oksana Kramareva
The Gamekeeper
Rickard Söderberg
A Kitchen Boy
Sidsel Aja Eriksen
Wood Nymph 1
Sara Swietlicki
Wood Nymph 2
Kine Sandtrø
Wood Nymph 3
Mathilda Bryngelsson
Malmö Opera Chorus
Malmö Opera Orchestra
Before the performance
Opera Dinner
A wonderful performance is best complemented with a dinner in the Opera Grill.
Afternoon Tea
On Sundays we serve finger sandwiches, delightful pastries, and freshly baked scones.
Foyer Meny
Begin your opera visit with Klassikern or the Opera Plate.
Bags
We kindly ask you to avoid bringing large bags to Malmö Opera whenever possible. Large bags are not allowed inside the auditorium, and our storage options are limited. Handbags may be brought with you into the auditorium.
Foyer Opening Hours
For performances in Storan, the foyer opens two hours before the show.
For performances in the foyer or in Verkstan, the doors open one hour before.
Here you can find the opening hours for the ticket office.
Pre-Booked Refreshments During the Interval
Have you made a pre-booking? Your table number will be displayed on signs in the foyer when you arrive. Please locate your table number before the performance begins.
Accessibility
The opera house is partially accessible for people with reduced mobility and for visitors with visual or hearing impairments. If you have a Malmönyckeln card, you may bring a support person to events at Malmö Opera. You pay only for your own ticket; your support person enters free of charge.
Read more about accessibility here.
Cloakroom
Please leave your outerwear in the cloakroom; it is free of charge.
Doors to the Auditorium
Your ticket indicates which entrance you should use.
Doors A, B, C, and D are located in the lower foyer (A is furthest to the left).
Doors E, F, G, and H are in the upper foyer (E is furthest to the left).
If you are seated on the balcony, you will find doors I, K, L, and M via a staircase in the upper foyer.