Butler County’s own Marianne Cornetti will be a part of the Pittsburgh Opera’s first production of its 2022-23 season: Antonin Dvořák’s “Rusalka.” The production, sometimes called opera’s “Little Mermaid,” will run Sept. 17, 20, 23 and 25 at the Benedum Center.

Cornetti is recognized as one of the leading Verdi mezzo-sopranos of her generation. She has appeared at prestigious opera houses across the world.

Rusalka is the Czech version of the popular fairy tale “The Little Mermaid.” While it has many similarities to the familiar animated movie, they are not exactly the same, Cornetti said.

“Unfortunately, our version does not end well. The Little Mermaid dies,” said Cornetti. “She sees a prince and falls in love with him. She wants to become human but the only person who can do that is Jezibaba.”

The witch, Jezibaba, is played by Cornetti.

“Jezibaba has killed people. She’s a very strong character. She tells her, ‘I will make you into a human, but listen. If you become human, you become mute, you will never speak again.’ And if you kiss the prince, he will die,” Cornetti said.

At first, the prince is infatuated by Rusakala. But because she cannot read or write, she cannot explain why she can’t talk and eventually the prince loses interest.

“Jezibaba says, ‘I told you so. You can end this by kissing him.’ Rusalka kills the prince and falls into oblivion. It’s magnificent,” said Cornetti.

“It’s really sounds like Wagner, but it’s not as austere as Wagner. It’s glorious, rapturous music. Vocally, it’s a very dramatic role,” she said.

Making things more difficult to learn, “Rusalka” is sung in its original Czech.

The opera premiered in 1901 and has become one of the most beloved lyric fairy tales of all time. These are the first-ever performances of “Rusalka” in Pittsburgh Opera’s 84-year history.

This is not just the first time that Pittsburgh Opera will perform “Rusalka,” but also the first time Pittsburgh Opera will sing an opera entirely in Czech. (English supertitles will be projected above the stage, as always.)

Cornetti found it especially tricky to learn the role in Czech.

“There are too many consonants and not enough vowels. You get three consonants together to make a sound — that’s very difficult for a singer,” she said.

She added she was very lucky to have the guidance of the Pittsburgh Opera’s chorus master Mark Trawka, who knows Czech very well. She was also aided by Csilla Boross, a soprano fluent in Czech, whom Cornetti met during a production of “La Gioconda“ in Orange, France.

The Knoch High School graduate is also artistic director of Pittsburgh Opera Festival and is on the voice faculty at Carnegie Mellon University.

Cornetti is also reviving church concert series, “Then Sings My Soul: Celebrating 30 Years of An Operatic Career and a Lifetime of Song.”

She will perform her concert of hymns, accompanied by pianist Bryan Sable and special guest soprano Katy WIlliams at 4 p.m. Oct. 4 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair. Any money raised will go to charity, she said.

She is also planning a “Marianne in Concert” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

Despite turning 60 in November, Cornetti has no plans to slow down.

“A lot of people think I’ve retired. I’m going to sing until I can’t,” she said. “I’m very proud of the fact that this old broad is still flinging around the stage.”

Nov. 4, will mark her 33rd anniversary of appearing with the Pittsburgh Opera in the role of Erste Magd in Richard Strauss' “Elektra.“

Cornetti went on to sing at major opera houses all over the world: Milan, Florence, the Vienna State Opera, Rome, Munich, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Tokyo, Shanghai, and at the Metropolitan Opera.

To get tickets to “Rusalka,” call Wendy Parkulo at the Pittsburgh Opera at 412-281-0912, ext, 213. Saying you are a friend or relative of Cornetti will get you a discount, she added.