Rusalka is a creature from Slavic mythology. It's a water spirit, a female ghost inhabiting lakes (usually the ones where she died). She takes form of a beautiful young woman, naked or clothed in simple white dress. She is known to dance around the lake at night and tempt handsome men to come close and then... she drowns them (or dances them to death, according to other sources).
The famous opera by Antonín Dvořák tells a story of love between Rusalka and the Prince. The Prince saw her when wandering through a forest at night and instantly they fell in love with each other. Unfortunately, Rusalka could not leave her pond. She had to ask Ježibaba - a forest witch - for help. And help she received but a witch's gifts always have a price. Ježibaba turned Rusalka into a human but took away her voice. The Prince took her into his castle and they would live long and happy if not for a Foreign Princess. She came to the castle, beautiful, mysterious and... having her voice. That's when the troubles started.
You can see how the story ends on April 21st. Kino Kijów in Krakow will be transmitting the show live from The Metropolitan Opera in New York. See you there!
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