Opera Der Fliegende Hollander

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Opera House

Dates: Apr. 25, 2013-Apr. 28, 2013

Duration: approximate 145 mins (intermission included)

About

A ghost ship that can never make port, doomed to sail the oceans forever. After storms and high seas, true love arrives. Der Fliegende Hollander represents the beginning of Wager's artistic maturity and marks his first step towards the creation of 'Music Drama'. Based on Scandinavian folklore Wagner wrote this magnificent and romantic mythical opera inspired by his own stormy sea crossing experience. Both the music and libretto were written by the maestro himself. Since its premiere, Der Fliegende Hollander has always been one of Wagner's most performed operas, attributing greatly to its gloomy and magical texture that mixes with relaxing and elegant touches occasionally, its composition method that fuses human voice perfectly with orchestral music, its story of intertwined love and fate, and its profound philosophical theme of sacrifice and redemption.

As the opening program of the NCPA Opera Festival 2012, Der Fliegende Hollander marks NCPA's first Wagner production. The year 2013 will witness the 200th anniversary of the birth of Wagner, and NCPA takes the initiative to delicate this production to the commemoration of the great composer. In the production of Der Fliegende Hollander, NCPA sticks to the advanced internationalization production idea of gathering top-notch artists worldwide, as it always does. The production team is a premium lineup led by extremely talented opera conductor Gian-Carlo del Monaco. All main characters are sung by outstanding artists who have rich experience in performing German and Austrian operas. The stage, combining realistic and imaginary representation, is on a par with the best 3D magical epic films: the spooky ghost ship and high-tech application of veiling, silk, and 12 large projection screens create lifelike scenes of roaring waves and violent winds on the sea. With the magnificent music, the opera emanates a supernatural force, carrying the audiences to experience vividly the misery and despair of the Dutchman who sails across oceans and belongs nowhere, and his compassion and calmness after he is redeemed by pure love and all turbulence and sufferings are gone.

Synopsis

An eerie and frightful ship with red sail and black mast is floating on the boundless ocean as the captain, a Dutchman, is cursed by a demon to lead a vagrant life on the sea until meets a woman who is truly in love with him and willing to sacrifice for him when he is allowed to go on shore every seven years.

The time for the Dutchman reaching land comes again after another seven years. He lands on the shore of Norway and the captain Daland's beautiful and kind-hearted daughter Senta have heard the legend of the Dutchman since she was little. Gradually sympathy develops into burgeoning love. She believes that she can offer him the unperishing love and make him free from curse. However, a young man named Erik falls in love with Santa and his confession of love to her is accidentally overheard by the Dutchman. Thinking that he will be abandoned again, the Dutchman resolutely takes off in deep grief and desperation. Senta hastily runs after him but is stopped by Erik, Daland and other bystanders. At this moment, the captain pours out his life story to make her quit out of fear, but this lovely and faithful girl swears to love him till death. She fiercely breaks away from the people restrained her, and jumps off the cliff into the ocean, stretching out her arms toward the Dutchman. His ship sinks in surging waves. Amidst the sound of current and sunset glow, the figures of Senta and the Dutchman embrace each other and emerge from the ocean.