Pavel Černoch

Lili Boulanger died tragically young, but she wrote music so powerful, dramatic, and full of fiery, untamed genius that it will literally blow you away. Faust et Helene is a drama about seduction and damnation, but it is also much more than that; just as Bartók's epic, life-affirming Concerto for Orchestra is more than just a masterpiece of the modern orchestra. Our guest conductor Joana Carneiro loves both works – so prepare yourself for a stunning experience.

Rusalka feels trapped in a world from which there is no escape. She is ready to put her immortality on the line in return for a human soul, so she can gain the love of a handsome prince. But she must pay for it with her voice. Muted and liberated from her dark world, she is forced to watch as the prince rejects her in favor of a foreign princess – dooming them both. She cannot live, she cannot die, yet nevertheless at the end, she helps the prince find his death with a “rescuing” kiss.