This month, West Australian Opera unveils a brand-new, all-Australian production of Rusalka. Looking back at its history, Jansson J. Antmann talks to director Sarah Giles, soprano Elena Perroni and director David Pountney, who introduced Dvořák’s opera into the Western canon.

Elena Perroni will perform the title role in Rusalka with West Australian Opera in July 2024. Photo © Alessandro Marzullo

When Elena Perroni makes her role debut as Rusalka this July in Antonín Dvořák’s opera of the same name, she will come full circle, having sung the Act I aria, Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém (Song to the Moon) at her professional debut.

 “It was July 2017, and my first job outside of school,” the West Australian soprano recalls. “I sang it with the Philadelphia Orchestra...