An Analysis of Emotional Expression and Musical Features in Dvořák's Opera Rusalka "Song to the Moon"

Abstract

This study examines the emotional expression and musical features in Antonín Dvořák’s opera Rusalka, with a particular focus on the aria "Song to the Moon." The aria is analyzed in terms of its portrayal of Rusalka's longing, vulnerability, and hope, through Dvořák’s use of melody, harmony, orchestration, and vocal writing. This research explores how the musical features amplify Rusalka's emotional state, emphasizing the delicate interplay between voice and orchestra. The study also delves into the broader thematic significance of the aria within the opera’s narrative, exploring themes of transformation, love, and the tension between the human and the supernatural. By combining musicological analysis and emotional interpretation, the paper demonstrates how Dvořák masterfully bridges emotional depth with Czech cultural identity, weaving nationalistic elements into the opera’s emotional and dramatic fabric.