Rusalka, Op. 114/B. 203: Song to the Moon [Alf:36-A279501]

The three-act opera Rusalka, Op. 114 was written by Anton­n DvorĦk (1841-1904) in 1900, with the premiere taking place on March 31, 1901 at the National Theatre in Prague, Karel Kovarovic conducting. The story of a water sprite seeking to become human to find love that turns to tragedy is based on the fairy tales of Karel Jarom­r Erben and BoĊena NemcovĦ, turned into a libretto by the poet Jaroslav Kvapil. In Slavic mythology, a "rusalka" is a water sprite that one would usually find in a lake or river. While the opera has been one of the most successful Czech operas, it has only recently become more popular internationally at other major opera companies. "Song of the Moon" ("Mes­cku na nebi hlubokİm") from the first act is by far the most popular excerpt from the work, often performed in a concert setting outside of the dramatic stage. In it, Rusalka sings to the Moon, asking it to tell the prince for whom she has fallen when he hunts around her lake that she loves him. Instrumentation: 2.2(2nd dEH).2+BCl.2: 4.1.0.0: Timp.Perc(2): Hp: Str (4-4-3-3-3 in set): Soprano (not in set).