Rusalka - Bayerische Staatsoper

Rusalka is not a happily tragic fairy tale. Rusalka’s lake is a dark, damp cellar, where she is imprisoned with her sisters by her abusive father. But once she finally escapes, she is thrown mute and alone into an equally brutal world where she is utterly unequipped to survive, and he increasingly looks like a protector.

Directed by Thomas Grimm, Rusalka - Bayerische Staatsoper leans on a strong ensemble — Kristine Opolais, Klaus Florian Vogt, Nadia Krasteva — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about music titles of 2010.