Der fliegende Holländer
An opera in 3 acts, sung in German (performed without breaks)
Libretto by Richard Wagner
After 160 years and countless adaptations, Richard Wagner’s fifth and one of the most widely staged ‘romantic’ operas, The Flying Dutchman (1840–1), has come almost full circle to the shores of the stormy Baltic Sea, where on board the ship Thetis driven to a Norwegian fjord the idea for the opera first occurred to the composer. Knowing the circumstances surrounding Wagner’s personal life and that long dreadful sea voyage, no wonder that he chose an old legend about the Dutch sailor condemned for blasphemy to sail the seas for evermore in a ghost ship until his soul will be redeemed by the love of a faithful woman as a subject for his new opera.
In 2020, the Klaipėda State Music Theatre staged its first production of the opera at the site where every detail seemed to ignite audience’s imagination – on the frame structures and hoists of the historic shiplift of Paul Willy Lindenau shipyard complex in the former port of Memel. By setting the scene in the open air, on the banks of the Curonian Lagoon, the artistic team around Concept and Artistic Director Dalius Abaris faced the challenge of dealing with the fast-changing weather conditions and almost a century-old industrial heritage. The real ship ‘sailing’ past the rows of the auditorium and kilolitres of water falling from the scaffold towers and acrobatic stunts on the ropes in between; costumes surprisingly alluding to the popular culture icons of the not-so-distant past; special effects created by modern lighting, theatrical smoke equipment and pyrotechnic devices; and last but not least Wagner’s fascinating music supremely performed by the Klaipėda State Musical Theatre Symphony Orchestra, choir and soloists, and amplified with the help of leading sound engineers and cutting-edge audio technology who made it sound as if it were staged in an acoustic theatre hall – all these elements created a splendid feast of opera, which was introduced to the audience in a single live show dedicated to the city’s 768th birthday on August 1, 2020.
Later, in the form of a video recording, The Flying Dutchman flew across Lithuania where it won a number of theatre awards as one of the most celebrated productions of the year and reached millions of viewers around the globe via the OperaVision platform where it received rave reviews from Wagner fans on either side of the Atlantic.
AWARDS
The Mask of Gratitude (26 March 2021, Klaipėda) to the creative team for Best Performance of Year 2020 in Klaipėda
Golden Crosses of the Stage (27 March 2021, Vilnius) to Dalius Abaris for directorial contribution and opera soloist Tadas Girininkas for the role of Daland
Albatross (23 July 2021, Klaipėda) to the Klaipėda State Music Theatre for the staging of Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman at the historic site of the Klaipėda Shipyard
ACT I
A raging storm has driven the homebound fishing boat aground in a cove. The Steersman tries to keep up his spirits with a song but falls asleep on the watch, together with the exhausted crew and the ship’s captain, Daland. As the storm grows stronger, a strange-looking vessel appears. Its pale-faced captain is the legendary Flying Dutchman who has been condemned to eternal wandering unimpeded by storms or pirates. He can find peace neither at sea, nor on land where he is permitted to go ashore once every seven years and search for true love, which is his only hope for salvation. The Dutchman asks captain Daland for shelter and offers his entire fortune in return for lodging. Tempted with the prospect of wealth, Daland gladly offers the hand of his daughter, Senta. A beam of hope shines in the Dutchman’s soul: is there a chance that he finds his lost homeland in Daland’s family and ultimate redemption through the love of faithful Senta? Meanwhile, sailors greet a tailwind and prepare their ships to set sail.
ACT II
Waiting for the return of Daland’s ship, the girls are working in the berth and singing. Senta is oblivious of her surroundings, brooding on an old medallion with a picture of a pale-faced sailor. Senta’s friends tease her about the huntsman Erik, her ardent suitor. Senta, heedless of their facetious remarks, sings a ballad, which she came to love as a child. It is about the wandering sailor whose mysterious ship is condemned to stay at sea forever. Every seven years he comes ashore to seek a maiden who would love him enough to declare herself faithful to him for life. Were he to find one, his curse would end – but he never does so. Senta’s friends are moved by the doomed wanderer’s fate, while she is obsessed with the idea that she will be the one to save the Flying Dutchman from doom. Senta’s words surprise Erik, who is overtaken by a strange foreboding. He relates a dream, in which he saw Senta’s father return with a mysterious stranger resembling the one portrayed on the medallion. Senta is now convinced – he is her destiny. Erik leaves in despair.
Daland unexpectedly arrives home with the Dutchman and relates Senta about their encounter and his companion’s lucrative proposal in exchange of her in marriage. But Senta barely notices her father, even when he introduces his guest as her betrothed. The Dutchman does not turn his eyes from Senta, hoping that her love and faithfulness will lift his curse. Daland leaves the two alone.
ACT III
Sailors celebrate their safe return to land. They call out to the Dutchman’s ship, inviting the crew to join them, but the ship remains dark and silent. Daland’s sailors deride the mysterious crew and tease the girls by telling about the ghost ship and its captain. Suddenly, a storm rises and ferocious singing is heard from the ghost ship. Daland’s men try to muffle up their wailing with their merry song but finally retreat in fear.
Hearing about Senta’s betrothal, Erik tries to dissuade Senta from binding her life with the eerie stranger. Senta is unwilling to listen to him, for she has made an oath and is called by a supreme mission. Erik then reminds her of their happy days together and his love for her. The Dutchman, seeing Senta together with Erik, is stricken by a sense of loss, believing that Senta, too, has failed to render him undying faithfulness. He reveals his secret and sets off towards his ship to continue this endless roaming. Erik and Daland’s attempts to restrain Senta are futile: she follows the Dutchman, determined to save him from curse… Will heaven hear her plea?
