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Der fliegende Holländer

opera in three acts

music by Richard Wagner

Duration

2 hours 40 minutes

1 act

50 min

interval 30 min

2 act

1 h 20 min

16+

for viewers over 16 years old

performed in Deutsch (with Russian surtitles)

Cast

Richard Wagner�s romantic opera was inspired by a maritime journey from Riga to London, which was anything but simple. The libretto, based on Heinrich Heine�s novella, was written by the composer himself. Wagner felt a spiritual connection to the sailor forever doomed to wander, as he too had been forced to move from one place to another, while all he longed for was peace of mind.

The director, Vasily Barkhatov, has transformed the story of the condemned Der fliegende Holländer , who longs for release, into a captivating thriller. He has transposed the action into the twentieth century. The protagonist is now an actor whose only hope for salvation is the true love of a woman. Senta falls in love with him after seeing him on screen. She recognizes her soul mate at once in the mysterious stranger who has appeared in the coastal town. The director has deliberately made use of cinematic form and conventions, and masterfully divided the stage into �film stills�. Thus, the cabin on the beach may become a movie theatre or a hotel room. Through the projection of black-and-white images the audience find themselves in an environment of shifting spaces and times. The production, as unpredictable and fresh as Wagner�s music, has a salt-laden sea wind whistling through it.

Act I

Driven by a violent storm to take shelter, Daland anchors his ship in the bay of Sandwike, some miles from his home port. Leaving his Steersman on watch, Daland and his crew go to rest. The Steersman, to keep himself awake, sings a ballad, but eventually he falls asleep.
A strange ship appears. Its captain, the legendary Flying Dutchman, sings of the curse upon him. Once he swore he would try to round a cape even if it took until eternity; the devil took him at his word: his rate is now to sail unceasingly until the Day of Judgment unless he can find a woman “faithful unto death.” Every seven years he may come ashore to search for one, and the time has now come again.
Daland returns to the deck, sees the strange ship and rouses the Steersman. They hail it but are met with silence. Daland meets the Dutchman, who tells him of his wanderings and asks for Daland’s friendship and hospitality. In return, he can offer untold riches. When the Dutchman discovers Daland has a daughter, he asks to marry her. Daland is delighted. The Dutchman wonders whether this woman will be his savior.
A southerly wind has sprung up and Daland’s crew prepare to set sail, the Dutchman promising to follow.

Act II

Senta’s friends are singing as they spin. Senta takes no part in the work, preferring to gaze at a picture of the Flying Dutchman. Mary reproaches her for idleness and the women mock her for her obsession with the Dutchman, particularly when she has a lover, Erik.
Senta asks Mary to sing the ballad of the Dutchman; she refuses, so Senta sings it herself. The women are moved by the story. Senta declares that she will be the woman to bring salvation to the doomed Dutchman. Everyone is horrified, including Erik, who overheard her. He tells them Daland’s ship is returning. Mary says the picture will be thrown out when Daland comes home.
The women leave to prepare for the sailors’ arrival. Erik begs Senta to be faithful to him but she is anxious to go and meet her father. Erik wishes she would forget the picture and the ballad. Senta is unmoved by his self-pity; the Dutchman’s sorrow cuts through her. Erik dreamt of a strange ship: Senta’s father and a stranger approached and Erik recognized the stranger as the Dutchman; Senta embraced him and sailed away with him. Senta is now convinced that the Dutchman is seeking her and it is her fate to save him.
Erik leaves in despair. Daland arrives with the Dutchman. He is puzzled that his daughter has not greeted him in the usual way. She is transfixed by the visitor. Daland asks her to offer him hospitality and urges her to marry him. He leaves the two alone, commending their respective virtues. The Dutchman and Senta are entranced, each contemplating the fulfillment of their dreams. Senta, overwhelmed by his suffering, saying she will be his salvation. The Dutchman warns her of the sacrifices she must make if she is to be one to him forever. But she says she will be true until death. Daland returns. He is overjoyed that there is now an engagement to celebrate.

Act III

The sailors are having a party. The women arrive with food and drink and take some to the stranger’s ship. But there is no response to their calls. The sailors continue their festivities. Suddenly the Dutchman’s crew come to life. The Norwegians flee in terror.
Senta appears with Erik, who is broken-hearted and reproachful. He pleads with her to remember her promises to him. The Dutchman is listening, and believes Senta unfaithful to him. He will return to the sea, never return to land, and forego his salvation. Senta begs him to stay but Erik wants her to let the Dutchman go. He tells her he will not let her fall victim to his curse, as have countless women in the ��st: all have sworn fidelity to him and broken their oaths; eternal damnation is their reward. Senta will be saved for she has not sworn fidelity to him before God. She maintains she has always known both his identity and destiny. Erik calls for help.
The Dutchman reveals his identity, boards his ship end leaves. In ecstasy, Senta calls out to him and throws herself in to the sea. The ship founders. The Dutchman is set free.