Robert Carsen's Rusalka Returns to Opéra Bastille

Robert Carsen's production of Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka, created over twenty years ago, is being revived at the Opéra Bastille in Paris until May 20, 2026. The opera, based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid and the tale Undine, tells the tragic love story of a water nymph and a human prince. The staging features an architectural concept with axes of symmetry that visually separate the aquatic and terrestrial worlds, with mirrored surfaces and lighting that evoke an invisible lake. Kasushi Ôno conducts the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris, praised for its refined and controlled performance. Soprano Nicole Car stars as Rusalka, delivering a luminous and touching interpretation, notably in the iconic 'Song to the Moon.' The cast includes Ekaterina Gubanova as the foreign princess, a trio of nymphs (Margarita Polonskaya, Maria Warenberg, Noa Beinart), and Seray Pinar as the Kitchen Boy. The production is hailed as a pinnacle of romantic lyric repertoire, blending musical richness, dramatic intensity, and visual beauty.