The Flying Dutchman
Palais Theatre, St Kilda
14 Feb 2015
- 19 Feb 2015
Wagner's opera sails into the 21st century in our groundbreaking vision of his first masterpiece.
A haunting love story, a doomed ghost ship. An epic opera in 3D. In St Kilda's iconic Palais Theatre, witness the famous tale of the legendary ghost ship come to life with the use of ground-breaking 3D technology.
Richard Wagner's first masterpiece is transformed by Victorian Opera and two internationally acclaimed Wagner singers bringing to life the roles of The Dutchman, forever cursed to sail the seas and the village girl who dreams of saving the doomed captain.
Performance information
Palais Theatre, St Kilda
Saturday 14 February 2015, 7.30pm
Tuesday 17 February 2015, 7.30pm
Thursday 19 February 2015, 7.30pm*
Sung in German with English surtitles.
2 hours and 50 minutes with one interval.
*Accessible performance.
Tactile tour - Thursday 19 February, 6.20pm
Audio described performance - Thursday 19 February, 7.30pm
Cast & Crew
Composer Richard Wagner
Conductor Richard Mills
Director Roger Hodgman
Set and Visual Design Matt Scott and Christina Smith
Lighting Design Matt Scott
Costume Design Teresa Negroponte
Cast
The Dutchman Oskar Hillebrandt
Senta Lori Phillips
Erik Bradley Daley
Daland Warwick Fyfe*
Mary Liane Keegan
Steersman Carlos E Barcenas
Victorian Opera Chorus
Australian Youth Orchestra
* Warwick Fyfe is proudly supported by The Richard Wagner Society (Vic)
Synopsis
Act I A Norwegian ship takes refuge from a storm in a fjord. Daland, its captain, recognises the place as a bay not far from his home. A ghostly ship with blood-red sails draws alongside, making landfall for the first time in seven years. Its captain is the Flying Dutchman, condemned by his own pride to sail the seas until Judgment Day. His redemption can be achieved only through the love of a faithful woman. Daland, tempted by the Dutchman’s treasure, offers the hand of his daughter Senta in marriage. The weather clears.
Act II Senta has long been obsessed with the legend of the Flying Dutchman whose portrait hangs in her home. She is convinced of her destiny to save him. Her despairing suitor Erik believes she has been possessed by Satan. The Dutchman arrives and he and Senta pledge themselves to each other.
Act III The Norwegian sailors and girls are celebrating. They call to the strange and silent Dutch vessel and taunt its crew. The sea begins to heave and, through the howling wind the Dutch crew can be heard lamenting their captain’s futile searches and the curse that dooms them to sail for ever. Erik makes a last effort to save Senta, but the Dutchman believes he has been betrayed and sets sail. Senta, determined to prove her devotion, leaps from a cliff. At once the phantom ship sinks and the Dutchman and Senta are seen together, rising above the waves.
Reviews
“Purist Wagnerians and mainstream audiences alike will adore this beautifully conceived and performed operatic tale of tormented love.”
“From the first arresting note of the Overture, the orchestra was in mighty form in the capacious pit; it deserved the rowdy ovation at the end. ”
“...an operatic event that should not be missed”
“This is the kind of production that makes old-school opera exciting and fresh.”
Presented in partnership with
Australian Youth Orchestra, and Deakin Motion.Lab supported by the Australian Research Council, and West Australian Opera.
Victorian Opera acknowledges
Henkell Brothers Investment Managers for their very generous support.