Opera superstar Nicole Car makes spectacular return to star in the Sydney premiere of Rusalka
Sydney,07 June,2025
Australian born, internationally acclaimed soprano Nicole Car is making her long awaited return to the Joan Sutherland Theatre next month to debut the titular role of Rusalka in Czech composer Antonin Dvořák’s romantic, melodic opera.
An OA Young Artist alumnus, Nicole will be joined by a dynamic and talented cast of performers including Austrian-Australian tenor, Gerard Schneider who will play the role of The Prince in his OA debut as well as local stars and audience favourites baritone Warwick Fyfe, mezzo soprano Ashlyn Tymms and soprano Natalie Aroyan.
Esteemed conductor Johannes Fritzsch will lead the OA orchestra through Dvořák’s rich score that blends intricate harmonies and soaring romantic melodies with charming Czech folk music including Rusalka’s most famous aria, ‘Song to the Moon’.
This new Opera Conference production, by award-winning Director Sarah Giles, whose most recent production of La Traviata had two sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House, will enchant audiences drawing them along on a mesmerising and dangerous journey.
Combining with creative powerhouses, set designer Charles Davis and costume designer Renée Mulder, Giles’ production features an evocative set that creates a dream-like world of light and shadow, courtesy of lighting designer Paul Jackson, and ethereal costumes that glimmer with magic and mystery.
Rarely performed by major companies, this is the first time Rusalka will be staged by OA in almost 20 years. It follows the production’s premiere in Perth last year by West Australia Opera.
Drawing inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Little Mermaid long before it was popularised by Disney, Dvořák composed what is regarded as his greatest and most popular work, fusing elements of the fairy tale with Slavic legends of dangerous water nymphs.
Rusalka’s desperate longing for the love of The Prince and a desire to escape the depths of the water she has been bound to sets her on a path of magic, risk, sacrifice and danger where she is forced to discover the true cost of love and freedom.
19 July – 11 August | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Creatives
Conductor Johannes Fritzsch
Director Sarah Giles
Set Designer Charles Davis
Costume Designer Renée Mulder
Lighting Designer Paul Jackson
Video Designer and Content Creator
David Bergman
Movement Director and Intimacy
Coordinator Dr Lyndall Grant
Cast
Rusalka Nicole Car
The Prince Gerard Schneider
The Water King Warwick Fyfe
The Duchess Natalie Aroyan
Ježibaba Ashlyn Tymms
First Wood Sprite Fiona Jopson
Second Wood Sprite Jennifer Bonner
Third Wood Sprite Helen Sherman
Gamekeeper Andrew Moran
Kitchen Boy Sian Sharp
Huntsman Malcome Ede
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra
This production of Rusalka is by the Opera Conference, Australia’s national partnership of professional opera companies.
Performance information
Evenings at 7:00pm
July 19, 23, 26, 29
Aug 1, 5, 11
Matinee at 12.00pm
Aug 9
Running time
Approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes including two intervals.
Performed in Czech with English surtitles
Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
www.opera.org.au
Joan Sutherland Theatre,Sydney Opera House
