Der Fliegende Hollaender (The Flying Dutchman), by Richard Wagner

Wagner has produced some of the world’s most recognisable operas – The Fairies, Tristan and Isolde as well as The Ring of the Nibelung. Born in 1813 in Leipzig, he produced 13 complete operas before his death in 1883.

The Flying Dutchman is a Romantische Oper is three acts. It first premiered on the 2nd January 1843 in Dresden at the Hofteatre. It is set on the Norwegian coast around 1650.

Characters:

The Dutchman (Baritone)

Daland, a Norwegian sailor (Bass)

Senta, his daughter (Soprano)

Erik, a huntsman (Tenor)

Mary, Senta’s nurse (Mezzo-Soprano)

Dalan’s helmsman (Tenor)

Norwegian sailors, young women and the Dutchman’s crew.

Synopsis:

Act I

Scene 1: Daland’s ship has anchored in a bay near his home seeking refuge from the storm. It is not long before the Dutchman’s ship arrives.

Scene 2: Seven years have passed; the Dutchman had been condemned to wander forever for his crime of blasphemy. He goes ashore to see if he can find a women who might be able to free him from his curse.

Scene 3: Daland is interested in acquiring the Dutchman’s treasures. He asks the Dutchman back to his house and promises him the hand of his daughter, Senta.

Act II

Scene 1: The women sit in front of their spinning wheels singing songs. Sentas, however, is tired of listening to their songs and instead longs for something that will drastically change her mundane life. Looking at the picture on the wall, Senta sings the song of the Flying Dutchman. Whilst singing, she identifies herself with the woman who can save the Dutchman from his eternal damnation.

 Scene 2: The huntsmasn, Erik, is in love with Senta. He dreams that she and the Dutchman are united and goes to warn her that her obsession could destroy her.

Scene 3: Daland returns home and introduces his daughter to the stranger he has brought with him. Senta recognises the Dutchman immediately and swears to be loyal for all eternity.

Act III

Scene 1: Daland’s sailors are celebrating their return home and invite the crew of the Dutchman to join in with their merrymaking. An eerie silence sweeps across the Dutchman’s ship until the Norwegian sailors see a ghostly presence on board which terrifies them.

Scene 2: Erik goes to Senta to change her mind. He reminds her of her vow to love him. The Dutchman overhears the conversation and, believing Senta to have been unfaithful, sets sail immediately. Senta is distraught and throws herself into the sea. The ship sinks beneath the waves. In the red glow of the next morning as the sun rises, the figures of Senta and the Dutchman can be seen in each other’s arms.