Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) is an opera, with music and libretto by Richard Wagner. The story comes from the legend of the Flying Dutchman, about a ship captain condemned to sail until Judgment Day. For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... Antonio Ghislanzoni, nineteenth century Italian librettist. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... The Flying Dutchman by Albert Pinkham Ryder For other uses, see The Flying Dutchman (disambiguation). ... Judgment Day redirects here. ...

Wagner claimed in his 1870 autobiography "Mein Leben" that he had been inspired following a stormy sea crossing he made from Riga to London in July and August 1839, but in his 1843 "Autobiographical Sketch" Wagner acknowledged he had taken the story from Heinrich Heine's retelling of the legend in his 1834 satirical novel "The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski" (Aus den Memoiren des Herrn von Schnabelewopski).^[1] 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Cover of the first English edition of 1793 of Benjamin Franklins autobiography. ... For other uses, see Riga (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (December 13, 1797 – February 17, 1856) was a journalist, an essayist, and one of the most significant German romantic poets. ... For other uses, see Legend (disambiguation). ... Year 1834 (MDCCCXXXIV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The central theme is redemption through love, to which Wagner returns in most of his subsequent operas. Redemption is also a collectible card game. ... For other uses, see Love (disambiguation). ...

Wagner conducted the premiere at the Semper Oper in Dresden, 1843. This work shows early attempts at operatic styles that would characterise his later music dramas. In Der fliegende Holländer Wagner uses a number of leitmotifs (literally, "leading motifs") associated with the characters and themes. The leitmotifs are all introduced in the overture, which begins with a well-known ocean or storm motif before moving into the Dutchman and Senta motifs. Premiere, from French language première meaning first, generally means a first performance. Premieres for theatrical, musical, and other productions are often extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media attention. ... Semperoper in Dresden Semperoper front facade The Semperoper or Saxon State Opera Dresden (Ger: Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden) is an opera house in Dresden, Germany, and is one of the most famous in the world. ... Dresden (etymologically from Old Sorbian Drežďany, meaning people of the riverside forest) is the capital city of the German Federal Free State of Saxony. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Music drama is the term ascribed to the revolutionary medium of artistic expression created by the German composer Richard Wagner. ... A leitmotif (IPA pronunciation: ) (also leitmotiv; lit. ... Overture (French ouverture, meaning opening) in music is the instrumental introduction to a dramatic, choral or, occasionally, instrumental composition. ...

Wagner originally wrote Der fliegende Holländer to be performed without intermission — an example of his efforts to break with tradition — and, while today's opera houses sometimes still follow this directive, it is also performed in a three act version. An intermission or interval is a break between two performances or sessions, in events such as a theatrical play, opera or musical concert. ... For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ...

Composition

By the beginning of 1839 Richard Wagner was employed as a conductor at the Court Theatre in Riga. His extravagant lifestyle and the retirement from the stage of his actress wife, Minna, meant that he ran up huge debts. Wagner was writing Rienzi and hatched a plan to flee his creditors in Riga, escape to Paris via London and make his fortune by putting Rienzi on to the stage of the Paris Opéra. However this plan quickly turned to disaster: his passport having been seized by the authorities on behalf of his creditors, he and Minna had to make a dangerous and illegal crossing over the Prussian border, during which Minna suffered a miscarriage.^[2] Boarding the ship Thetis, whose captain had agreed to take them without passports, their sea journey was hindered by storms and high seas. The ship at one point took refuge in the Norwegian fjords at Tvedestrand, and a trip that was expected to take 8 days finally delivered Wagner to London 3 weeks after leaving Riga. 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... For other uses, see Riga (disambiguation). ... Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes) is an early opera by Richard Wagner in five acts, with the libretto written by the composer after Bulwer-Lyttons novel of the same name. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes) is an early opera by Richard Wagner in five acts, with the libretto written by the composer after Bulwer-Lyttons novel of the same name. ... Théâtre de lAcadémie Royale de Musique, Paris, circa 1865 Théâtre de lAcadémie Royale de Musique (also been known as the Théâtre Imperial de l´Opéra , Le Rue Peletier, or simply, Le Peletier, but more familiarly, as the Paris Opéra) was the... For Microsoft Corporation’s “universal login” service, formerly known as Microsoft Passport Network, see Windows Live ID. For other types of travel document, see Travel document. ... Anthem Preußenlied, Heil dir im Siegerkranz (both unofficial) The Kingdom of Prussia at its greatest extent, at the time of the formation of the German Empire, 1871 Capital Berlin Government Monarchy King  - 1701 — 1713 Frederick I (first)  - 1888 — 1918 William II (last) Prime minister  - 1848 Adolf Heinrich von Arnim... Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the natural or spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or the fetus is incapable of surviving, generally defined in humans at a gestation of prior to 20 weeks. ... For other uses, see Storm (disambiguation). ... Fjord in Sunnmøre, Norway Geirangerfjord, Norway A fjord (or fiord) is a long, narrow estuary with steep sides, made when a glacial valley is filled by rising sea water levels. ... County Aust-Agder Landscape Sørlandet Municipality NO-0938 Administrative centre Tvedestrand Mayor (2004) Jan Dukene (Tvedestrand Tverrpolitiske Liste) Official language form Bokmål Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 322 218 km² 204 km² 0. ...

Wagner's experience of Paris was also disastrous. He was unable to get work as a conductor, and the Opéra did not want to produce Rienzi. The Wagners were reduced to penury, relying on handouts from friends and from the little income that Wagner could make writing articles on music and copying scores. Wagner hit on the idea of a one-act opera on the theme of The Flying Dutchman, which he hoped might be performed before a ballet at the Opéra. Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... ...

"The voyage through the Norwegian reefs made a wonderful impression on my imagination; the legend of the Flying Dutchman, which the sailors verified, took on a distinctive, strange colouring that only my sea adventures could have given it."^[3]

Wagner wrote the first prose draft of the story in Paris early in May of 1840, basing the story on Heinrich Heine's satire "The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski" (Aus den Memoiren des Herrn von Schnabelewopski) published in Der Salon in 1834. In Heine's tale, the narrator watches a performance of a fictitious stage play on the theme of the seacaptain cursed to sail forever for blasphemy. Heine introduces the character as a Wandering Jew of the ocean, and also added the device taken up so vigorously by Wagner in this, and many subsequent operas: the Dutchman can only be redeemed by the love of a faithful woman. In Heine's version, this is presented as a means for ironic humour; however, Wagner took this theme literally and in his draft, the woman is faithful until death.^[4] 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (December 13, 1797 – February 17, 1856) was a journalist, an essayist, and one of the most significant German romantic poets. ... Year 1834 (MDCCCXXXIV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For the black metal band, see Blasphemy (band). ... The Wandering Jew by Gustave Doré. For other uses, see Wandering Jew (disambiguation). ...

By the end of May 1841 Wagner had completed the libretto or poem as he preferred to call it. Composition of the music had begun during May - July of the previous year, 1840, when Wagner wrote Senta's Ballad, the Norwegian Sailors' song in Act 3 ("Steersman leave the Watch!") and the subsequent Phantom song of the Dutchman's crew in the same scene.^[5] These were composed for an audition at the Paris Opéra, along with the sketch of the plot. Wagner actually sold the sketch to the Director of the Opéra, Léon Pillet, for 500 francs, but was unable to convince him that the music was worth anything.^[6] The rest of the opera was composed during the summer of 1841, with the Overture being written last, and by November 1841 the orchestration of the score was complete. Relieved of the need to give the Opéra a one-act drama, he had expanded the opera to the more conventional three acts. Wagner's original draft had the action set in Scotland, and many of the characters had Scottish names. He changed the location and names to the final Norwegian version while the opera was in rehearsals for its first production, which took place in Dresden in January 1843 with Wagner himself conducting. 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Antonio Ghislanzoni, nineteenth century Italian librettist. ... The franc is the name of several currency units. ... Overture (French ouverture, meaning opening) in music is the instrumental introduction to a dramatic, choral or, occasionally, instrumental composition. ... This article is about the country. ... Premiere, from French language première meaning first, generally means a first performance. Premieres for theatrical, musical, and other productions are often extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media attention. ... Dresden (etymologically from Old Sorbian Drežďany, meaning people of the riverside forest) is the capital city of the German Federal Free State of Saxony. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Writing in "Eine Mitteilung an meine Freunde" ("A Communication to my Friends") in 1851, Wagner claimed that Der fliegende Holländer represented a new start for him: 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

"From here begins my career as poet, and my farewell to the mere concoctor of opera-texts."

Indeed to this day Der fliegende Holländer is the earliest of Wagner's operas to be performed at the Bayreuth Festival, and, at least for that theatre, marks the start of the mature Wagner canon. Bayreuth Festspielhaus, as seen in 1882 The annual Bayreuth Festival in Bayreuth, Germany is devoted principally (but not exclusively) to performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner. ...

Roles

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... A bass-baritone is a singing voice that shares certain qualities of both the baritone and the bass. ... This article is about the voice-type. ... Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient (December 6, 1804–January 26, 1860), German operatic singer // Professional life Her first role was at the age of fifteen as Aricia in Schillers translation of Racines Phèdre, and in 1821 she was received with so much enthusiasm as Pamina in Mozarts... A bass (or basso in Italian) is a male singer who sings in the deepest vocal range of the human voice. ... This article is about Tenor vocalists in music. ... In music, an alto is a singer with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a soprano. ...

Plot

Place: on the coast of Norway.

Act I

On his homeward journey, the sea-captain Daland is compelled by stormy weather to seek a port of refuge. He leaves the helmsman on watch and he and the sailors retire. (Song of the helmsman: "With tempest and storm on distant seas.") The helmsman falls asleep. A ghostly vessel appearing astern is dashed against Daland's vessel by the sea and the grappling irons hold the two ships together. Invisible hands furl the sails. A man of pale aspect, dressed in black, his face framed by a thick black beard, steps ashore. He laments his fate. (Aria: "The time has come and seven years have again elapsed") Having broken his troth, the ghost captain is cursed to roam the sea forever without rest. An angel brought to him the terms of his redemption: at the end of every seven years the angry waves cast him upon the shore; if he can find a wife who will be true to him he will be released. Captain Sir Arthur Henry Rostron receiving a loving cup from Margaret Brown for his rescue of RMS Titanic survivors Main article: Seafarers professions and ranks Captain is the traditional customary title given to the person in charge of a ship at sea. ... A helmsman is an person who steers a ship. ... An aria (Italian for air; plural: arie or arias in common usage) in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and to make a clear distinction between fact and fiction, this article may require cleanup. ...

Daland meets the captain. The ghost offers him treasure, and when he hears that Daland has an unmarried daughter named Senta, he asks for her as his wife. Tempted by gold, Daland consents, and favoured by the south wind joyfully acclaimed by Daland's men (repetition of the song of the helmsman and chorus), both vessels set sail.

Act II

A group of local girls are singing and spinning in Daland's house. (Spinning chorus: "Spin, spin, fair maiden") Senta, Daland's daughter, dreamily gazes upon a gorgeous picture of the Flying Dutchman that hangs from the wall; she desires to save him. Against the will of her nurse, she sings to her friends the story of the Dutchman (Ballad with the Leitmotiv), how Satan heard him swear and took him at his word, she declares she will save him by her fidelity. This article is about the concept of Satan. ...

The huntsman Erik, Senta's former boyfriend, arrives and hears her; the girls depart, and the huntsman, who loves the maiden, warns her, telling her of his dream, in which Daland returned with a mysterious stranger, who carried her off to sea. She listens with delight, and Erik leaves her in despair.

Daland arrives with the stranger; he and Senta stand gazing at each other in silence. Daland is scarcely noticed by his daughter, even when he presents his guest as her betrothed. In the following duet, which closes the act, Senta swears to be true till death. Betrothal is a formal state of engagement to be married. ... Duet may refer to: Duet, musical form Duet, Fox sitcom This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Act III

Later in the evening, Daland's crew invite the men onto the strange vessel to join in the festivities, but in vain. The girls retire in wonder; ghostly forms appear at work upon the vessel of the Flying Dutchman, and Daland's men retreat in fear.

Senta arrives, followed by Erik, who reproves her for her desertion, as she had formerly loved him and vowed constancy. When the stranger, who has been listening, hears these words, he is overwhelmed with despair, as he thinks he is now forever lost. He summons his men, tells Senta of the curse, and to the consternation of Daland and his crew declares that he is the "Flying Dutchman."

Hardly has the Dutchman left the shore, when Senta arrives and throws herself into the sea, claiming that she will be faithful to him unto death. This is his salvation. The spectral ship disappears, and Senta and the Dutchman are seen ascending to heaven.

See also

• The Flying Dutchman discography

This is a complete discography of Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) by Richard Wagner. ...

References

The plot is taken from Leo Melitz (1921). The Opera Goer's Complete Guide.

Notes

External links

• Richard Wagner - The Flying Dutchman. A gallery of historic postcards with motives from Richard Wagner's operas.
• The libretto (in German) In English