52nd Season
2007–2008
Der fliegende Holländer
The Flying Dutchman
Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner
The Flying Dutchman
Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner
|
52nd Season 2007–2008 |
Der fliegende Holländer The Flying Dutchman Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner |
|
Act I
A rocky seacoast
Seeking refuge from a storm, Daland and his crew have dropped anchor in a protected cove. Daland ascertains that they are only seven miles from their home port, and tells the crew to get some rest until the storm abates. As the Steersman keeps watch, he sings of seeing his beloved again. Gradually, in spite of his best efforts, he falls into a slumber.
The storm begins to rage again and a mysterious red-sailed ship appears and docks near Daland’s. Its captain, the Dutchman, reflects bitterly on the curse that has forced him to sail the oceans without surcease. He laments that he has often sought death by plunging into the sea or driving his ship onto reefs, to no avail. The one ray of hope to bring his torment to an end is that once every seven years, he is allowed to go ashore to seek redemption through a woman’s true love. This is the seventh year. Will he meet failure once again? Will Judgment Day be his only release?
When Daland comes back on deck, he is astonished to see the red-sailed ship and goes ashore to talk with its captain. The Dutchman tells of his endless search for a home port and offers Daland riches if the Norwegian captain will let him stay overnight at his home. When he discovers that Daland has a daughter, he risks all and asks for her hand in marriage: he offers all of his treasure in return. Moved by the Dutchman’s story, and by the prospect of a good marriage for his daughter, Daland readily agrees. The weather begins to improve, and the Dutchman and his crew sail after the Norwegians to their nearby village.
Act II
The main room of Daland’s house.
The room is dominated by a large portrait of
a pale man with a beard and dark clothes of an earlier era.
The village women have gathered to spin and sew. But Senta, Daland’s daughter, sits dreamily to one side and gazes at the portrait. Senta’s nurse, Mary, urges her to join the group, but she does not hear. When the other girls tease Senta about being in love with the handsome young hunter Erik, she finally reacts and angrily tells them to stop their silly song. She suggests that Mary should sing the ballad of the Dutchman instead, but the nurse refuses. Senta decides to sing it herself. Through the ballad we learn that, centuries before, when the Dutchman was attempting to round a cape during a storm, he had sworn, “In all eternity I will not give up!” Satan heard this, took him at his word, and doomed him to sail on forever. However, an angel took pity on him and promised redemption if he could find a wife willing to sacrifice herself for him. Senta makes up her mind that she will be the one.
Just at that moment, Erik arrives to announce the arrival of Daland’s ship. He pleads with Senta to intercede on his behalf with her father, so they can at last get married. Unable to retrieve her from her fantasy of saving the Dutchman, he reluctantly relates a dream he has had. In it, two men arrived at the port, her father and the Dutchman. Senta appeared and threw herself at the Dutchman’s feet and, after ardently kissing him, sailed out to sea with him. Senta is tantalized by the dream. Erik rushes off in horror.
Daland and the Dutchman arrive, and her father bids Senta make the Dutchman welcome. Senta recognizes the Dutchman as the man in the portrait. The two are transfixed. Daland tells his daughter of the stranger’s offer, showing her the jewels he has been given, but she pays no attention. Finally realizing that the two are interested only in each other, Daland leaves. Senta tells the stranger that she will marry him and hopes to be the means to his redemption. They are ecstatic. The Dutchman tries to warn her of the danger she faces, but she is adamant. Daland returns to ask if the evening’s welcome-home feast can be combined with a betrothal party. Once more, Senta vows to be true to the Dutchman until death.
Act III
The port near Daland’s village.
The sailors on Daland’s ship are celebrating, but the Dutchman’s ship is dark and silent. As the women arrive with food and drink, they call to the dark boat, offering its crew some refreshment. When there is no answer, the men are reminded of the fabled Dutchman’s ship and tell the girls not to wake the crew members because they are ghosts. The women are disturbed and leave the sailors to drink and feast. Soon there are signs of stirring on the Dutchman’s ship and, although it is calm everywhere else, a storm comes up around it. Its ghoulish crew sings of the curse wondering whether the captain is back with a wife. The Norwegians attempt to drown out the deathly vision that the ghost sailors create. It becomes a singing match; the Norwegians are bested and, making the sign of the cross, they flee. The Dutch crew laughs and disappears.
Senta runs out of the house followed by Erik. He insists that she explain how she could pledge herself to someone she has scarcely met. He reminds her of the day she swore her eternal faith to him. The Dutchman overhears and, thinking that her promise to him was not sincere, cries out despairingly that he is lost. He orders his crew to make ready to sail. Senta tries to stop him. He responds by releasing her from the vow she made to him. He reasons that, if she had taken her oath before God, she would now be damned, but as she only made her promise to him, she is free. However, Senta fulfills her commitment to save him. She throws herself into the sea and releases the Dutchman from his endless torment. The two are seen rising to Heaven in each other’s arms.
