Rusalkas aspiration

A day, a week, a month, maybe even a year might pass when you look back and wonder, what happened? Where did my life go? Am I really living my life or just letting it pass by, lost in the daily stress and repetitions?

Time is ruthless. But that is also one reason for why we, hopefully, love and experience life so intensely and passionately. Because we know that there is an end. 

Rusalka is an immortal, mystical creature but she longs to be seen, to be loved and for her life to have meaning. If you were immortal would you love as passionately? Or is it the threat of death that crates this passion?

In many ways Rusalka is a coming of age story; Rusalka breaks away from her home, chooses a path in life and has to stand by the decisions that she has made. 

The story is also about Rusalkas relationship with her father Vodnik.

The apprehension a parent can feel when ones child starts making their own decisions, the despair when seeing ones child suffering, the wish to always be by their side and protect them from all sorrows in life. 

Rusalka is a story with mermaids, witches and magic spells. But as adults we can recognize ourselves in the never ending searching for a meaningful life and the wish to protect the ones we love.

Rusalka: Susanna Reuter

Prince: John Haque

Vodník(water gnome): Joel Kyhle

Ježibaba (witch): Emelie Thoor

Princess: Synne Vinje

Game keeper: Mårten Wåhlström

Turnspit: Alexandra Linde

Director: Jennifer Macpherson

Conductor: Niklas Tamm

Costume: Gabrielle Wetter-Burman

Light design: Martin Lögdström

Österbybruks opera orchestra

Photography: Emelie Thoor

Swedish translation: Niklas Tamm