Carmen is undoubtedly one of the most popular and most performed operas in the world. Its premiere in 1875 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, however, was only a moderate success: The outrageous new realism, the brutality and vehemence in the actors’ actions, and not least the shady milieu, overwhelmed the conventional Parisian audience, which was stuck in old patterns of thought.The opera is set around 1820 in Seville, Andalusia, and is based on the novella of the same name by Prosper Merimée. The libretto was co-produced by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy (nephew of composer Jacques Fromental Halévy and also cousin of Georges Bizet’s wife). Shortly after its premiere, Carmen began its triumphal march across the world via Vienna and the rest of Europe, a triumph that continues to this day.The theme and plot of this opera inspired numerous artists to create independent works, and various (opera and dance) films as well as ballets were made. Georges Bizet (1838-1875), however, unfortunately did not live to see the triumph of his sensual and passionate masterpiece. Exactly three months to the day after the first performance, he succumbed to a fatal heart attack at the age of only 36.

The lyrical fairy tale "Rusalka" was premiered in Prague in 1901. The touching and idyllic musical work by Antonín Dvořák transports the opera-goer into a colorful, atmospheric-melancholic dream world of timeless beauty and elegance. The vocal soloists find grateful tasks through the catchy and cantabile melodies - Dvořák also finally achieved his breakthrough in the stage dramatic field with his most successful opera.The story of an attempted incarnation fails, even though the mermaid Rusalka is able to take on human form and follow her beloved prince into his kingdom. However, in order to obtain a soul, she must bear the consequence mentioned by the witch Ježibaba: the transformed woman must remain mute. From now on, the prince experiences Rusalka as a stranger and soon succumbs to the seduction of another woman. Nature and human coexistence remain incompatible: as prophesied by Aquarius, Rusalka cannot experience the longingly awaited earthly happiness of love - nor is the prince’s romantic desire for an idealized, free-spirited world of nature fulfilled.