Opera meets folklore in The Flying Dutchman. Based on an old Dutch maritime legend, it is regarded as Wagner’s first Romantic opera, with themes such as love, redemption, nature and the supernatural. Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about this mystical opera.
The legend of The Flying Dutchman focuses on a ghost ship with a captain who must sail the seas forever as a result of a pact with the devil or a curse. Lots of accounts state that the ship appears during powerful storms, which led people to believer that seeing it was an omen of marine disaster.
Beyond the original tale, Wagner was inspired by Heinrich Heine’s novel The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski, which added the idea that the Dutchman could step ashore every seven years with the chance of being saved by a devoted woman. Some of the opera’s music is also supposedly inspired by a turbulent journey at sea; Wagner and his wife Minna (Wilhelmine) were travelling from the east Prussian port of Pillau to London on a ship when it was struck by a storm and had to take shelter in a Norwegian fjord. Wagner accounted that the experience ‘made a wonderful impression on my imagination’.
In Wagner’s version of the legend, the Dutchman is fortunate enough to meet the influential Daland. He learns that he has a daughter, Senta, who is fascinated by his story and shows him incredible kindness, bringing hope for his future. However, Erik, who is in love with Senta, creates complications. Senta is left with a decision that will have a huge impact on everyone’s fates, for better or worse.
The Flying Dutchman premiered in January 1843 in Dresden, Germany. It was conducted by Wagner and was not a great success initially. When it was performed the following year in Berlin, audiences were thrilled but critics remained unimpressed. Years later, however, it started receiving recognition and is today considered a masterpiece.
The music in the opera is moody, dramatic and emotional. The overture sets the tone for the story with a thunderous sound and introduces audiences to the various leitmotifs (musical themes which represent characters or ideas – a technique of Wagner’s which has since become very popular with film composers). Other iconic musical moments include the beautiful Johohoe!, sung by Senta, and the Dutchman’s opening aria Die Frist ist um (The time has come).
We’re thrilled to bring you Welsh director Jack Furness’ production of The Flying Dutchman, featuring a highly talented cast including Simon Bailey (The Dutchman), Rachel Nicholls (Senta) and Leonardo Caimi (Erik) alongside WNO Chorus and Orchestra. The creative team features WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus, who will be conducting the final opera of his tenure, and Designer Elin Steele, among others.
The Flying Dutchman begins its voyage at Wales Millennium Centre on Thursday 16 April, later journeying to Plymouth, Birmingham and Milton Keynes.