Nina Balatka

Set against the bustling streets and historic spires of mid‑nineteenth‑century Prague, the story follows Nina, a young Christian woman, and Anton, a successful businessman, whose engagement has already been sealed. Their love is simple on the surface, yet it crosses a forbidden line: Nina’s heart belongs to a Jewish suitor, a fact that threatens to upend everything they know about family, faith, and society. From the first scene, listeners are drawn into a world where personal desire collides with the rigid expectations of a community still wrestling with deep‑seated prejudice.

Trollope’s keen eye for social detail paints a vivid portrait of Victorian‑era attitudes toward religion, wealth, and marriage, while his characters navigate the delicate balance between duty and longing. As Nina and Anton confront the whispers of neighbors and the weight of tradition, the narrative explores how love can both expose and challenge entrenched biases. The opening act sets the stage for a thoughtful, emotionally resonant tale that invites listeners to consider how far the heart will go when society draws its boundaries.