Opera Queensland: Rusalka

A haunting fairytale, a sweeping score and a heroine willing to risk everything for love – Opera Queensland’s grand-scale production of Rusalka arrives in Brisbane this winter, taking over QPAC’s Glasshouse Theatre from June 25 to July 4. The announcement of the acclaimed operatic masterpiece marks the company’s first production in the newly unveiled venue.

Directed by award-winning opera and theatre director Sarah Giles, this reimagining of Antonín Dvořák’s classic leans into a darker, more atmospheric mood. Drawing on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, the story follows Rusalka, a water nymph who gives up everything she knows in pursuit of love, only to find herself navigating the consequences of that choice.

The breathtaking production pairs sweeping romance with the richness of Czech folk music, with the beloved ‘Song to the Moon’ sitting at its emotional centre. Internationally acclaimed Australian soprano Eleanor Lyons takes on the title role, joined by an all-star cast including tenor Rosario La Spina and soprano Eva Kong.

Under the baton of Vladimir Fanshil and backed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the production, performed in Czech with English surtitles, is set to enthral audiences with operatic brilliance, striking visuals and emotional intensity. Be quick to secure your seats.