The Flying Dutchman is one of Wagner’s earliest operas and is unusually short by Romantic opera standards, however within the score it is easy to identify themes and musical motifs that appear throughout his later work. Following the unanimous success of Parsifal last year, an ENO dream team introduce another Wagner masterpiece and when I bumped into several opera keen friends at opening night, I realised just how highly anticipated this production was.
It is a mysterious tale of a ghostly sea captain, riding the seas anxious to find a suitable woman who will be faithful till death. He meets with a lost seafarer and soon discovers that in return for his fortune he can gain a wife. The young Senta roams the stage throughout the first act, missing her father who only returns from sea every seven years. Senta is possessed mind and soul by the storybook telling the tale of the Dutchman and his need for a wife. When her father returns home years later with the Dutchman, Senta is at last relieved of her anguish. They are reunited much to the disgust of the town. Unable to cope with Senta’s unrealistic dreams Erik tries to convince Senta that her destiny lies with him, spying the couple the Dutchman leaves. Tormented by the loss of her love, Senta kills herself unable to imagine life without him.
The cast is all round impressive, in particular the desperate lover Erik sung by Stuart Skelton and Clive Bayley as Senta’s father who has a strong charismatic bass voice that is very enjoyable to listen to. James Cresswell is moody and brooding as the Dutchman but vocally he lacks substance and could have been more emphatic. Orla Boylan has an appropriately big voice for the female lead, Senta.
It was a great pleasure to see Edward Gardner in the pit once again, conducting his first Wagner opera. Obviously enjoying the power and energy of the score, he led with great enthusiasm and the orchestra responded well providing a strong backbone for the singers. The epic sets suit the dramatic Wagnerian story perfectly, a masterpiece from Paul Brown, and Nina Dunn’s video designs are extremely atmospheric and cleverly made.
The ENO’s ‘Flying Dutchman’ passes with flying colours, a real triumph to start the new season.
Continues until 23 May, book here.