The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Holländer) by Richard Wagner
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The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer) by Richard Wagner Cast DALAND, a Norwegian skipper (bass) SENTA, his daughter (soprano) ERIK, a hunter (tenor) MARY, Senta’s nurse (mezzo-soprano) STEERSMAN OF DALAND (tenor) THE DUTCHMAN (baritone) Norwegian Sailors, crew of the Flying Dutchman, maids OVERTURE Ho! Captain! ACT ONE DALAND Scene One How’s everything on board? (A part of the Norwegian coast with steep and STEERSMAN rocky cliffs in the foreground. A violent storm is All’s well, Captain. We’re safe afloat. raging out to sea but between the rocks it is calmer except for intermittent squalls. Daland, DALAND the Norwegian captain, has just anchored his Sandwike it is. I know the bay well. ship close to the shore and the sailors are busy Confound it! On shore I saw my home. furling sails, throwing out ropes, etc. Daland has Senta, my child, I seemed to embrace: gone ashore; he has scaled a cliff in an attempt then this devilish gale blew up! to recognize the country inland.) Who trusts the wind, trusts Satan’s mercy! (going aboard) SAILORS What’s the good? Patience! (at work) The storm is abating; Hojohe! Hallojo! Raging so, it cannot last. Hojohe! Hallojo! Ho! He! (on board) Ho! He! Ja! Ho! Hallojo! Ho, lads! Your watch was long. Ho! Johe! Hallohe! Hallohe! Rest now! I have no fear! DALAND (The Sailors go below) Now, helmsman, you’ll take the watch for me? (descending to the shore) There’s no danger but you’d better stay awake. No doubt! Seven miles the storm has blown us from the safety of port. STEERSMAN So near our goal after a long voyage Rest easy! Sleep in peace. Captain! and now this ill-luck! (Daland goes into his cabin. The Steersman is STEERSMAN alone on deck. The storm has somewhat abated; (on board, shouting through cupped hands) it returns only at sporadic intervals; on the open 2 sea the waves are still rough. The steersman Dutchman furl the sails. The Dutchman goes makes his round once more, then sits down near ashore, wearing black Spanish clothing.) the rudder. He yawns, then rouses himself as sleep comes over him.) Scene Two STEERSMAN DUTCHMAN In gale and storm from far-off seas, The time is up and seven more years my maiden, I am near you! have gone. Weary of it the sea casts me up Over towering waves from the south, on land. Ha! Proud ocean! my maiden, I am here! Soon you shall bear me again! My maiden, were there no southwind, Your spite is fitful, but my torment is eternal! I could never come to you! The grace I seek on land never Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger! shall I find! To you, ocean-tides, My maiden longs for me! I shall be true, until your last wave Hohojo! Hallohoho! breaks, and you are drained dry. Jollohohoho! Hohoje! How often into the sea’s deepest maw Hallohoho! ho ho ho ho ho ho! have I longingly hurled myself, yet death, ah, I found it not! (A wave rises, violently shaking the ship. The There, in the awful tomb of ships, steersman starts up and looks around; having I drove mine on to the rocks, satisfied himself that no harm has been done, he but alas, no tomb closed over me! sits down again near the helm and sings, while Mockingly, I defied the pirate, sleep gradually overcomes him. He yawns.) in fierce combat I hoped for death. Here — I cried — Show your prowess. STEERSMAN With treasure my ship is filled. On southern shores, in far-off lands Alas, the sea’s barbarous son I thought of you! crossed himself in terror and fled! Through storms and sea, from Moroccan coast Nowhere a grave! Never death! I have brought you something. This is damnation’s dread command! My maiden, praise the south-wind, I bring you a golden ring. You I ask, blessed angel of God, Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger! who won for me the terms of my salvation, My maiden would like the trinket. was I the sorry plaything of your scorn, Hoho! Je! Holla ho! when you showed me the way to redemption? Vain hope! Terrible, futile folly! (He struggles with his fatigue and finally falls There is no eternal fidelity on earth! asleep. The storm begins to rage violently again: Only one hope is left to me, it grows darker. In the distance appears the ship only one that is undestroyed: of the Flying Dutchman, with blood-red sails and while Earth’s seeds long may thrive black masts. She rapidly nears the shore, on the yet one day it must end too! side opposite the Norwegian ship. With a fearful Day of Judgment! Day of Doom! crash she drops anchor. The Steersman starts up When will you dawn and end my night? from his sleep; without leaving his place he When will resound the crack of doom, glances hastily at the beginning of his song.) rending the earth asunder? When all the dead rise up, STEERSMAN then shall I fade into the void. My maiden, were there no south-wind... Worlds, end your course! Eternal destruction, take me! (He falls asleep once more. Silently, and without the slightest sound, the spectral crew of the 3 THE DUTCHMAN’S CREW DUTCHMAN (from the hold) (without changing his position) Eternal destruction, take us! I come from afar: would you deny me anchorage in this storm? Scene Three DALAND (Daland comes out on deck, he takes [the God forbid! direction] of the wind and notices the foreign A sailor is always hospitable! ship.) (going ashore) Who are you? DALAND (looking around for the steersman) DUTCHMAN Hey there! Steersman! A Dutchman. STEERSMAN DALAND (half rising, still dazed with sleep) God’s greeting! So the storm drove you too It’s nothing! It’s nothing! on this barren rocky beach? “Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger, I was no luckier: only a few miles my maiden...” from here is my home: I was almost there when I had to turn about. Say, DALAND where are you from? Are you damaged? (shaking the steersman) You see nothing? — DUTCHMAN Fine watch you keep, don’t you, lad? My ship is strong, she is undamaged. There lies a ship. — Driven on by storm and ill winds How long have you been asleep? I rove the seas - how long, I can hardly tell; STEERSMAN I no longer count the years. (starting up quickly) It is impossible to name Devil take it! Pardon me, Captain! all the lands that I have found: (He takes a megaphone and calls across) the only one I long for Who are you? I cannot find — my homeland! (Echo is heard; long pause) Grant me a short stay in your house, Who are you? and you won’t regret your friendship. (Long pause. Echo is heard again) With treasures from every land and zone DALAND my ship is richly laden, if you’ll agree, They seem just as lazy as we are. you’ll profit by it. STEERSMAN DALAND (as before) How wonderful! Can I believe you? Answer! Your ship and flag? Ill-luck seems to have dogged you. To help you I’ll offer what I can: DALAND but — may I ask what your ship holds? (seeing the Dutchman on shore) Wait! I think I see the Captain. DUTCHMAN (calling the Dutchman) (making a sign to his crew, two of whom bring a Ahoy there! Sailor! Your name! chest ashore) Where are you from? The rarest treasures you shall see, (Long pause) costly pearls, precious stones. 4 (He opens the chest.) I shall never reach my homeland, Look and satisfy yourself of the value what good to me is gain of wealth? of what I offer for a friendly roof. Just consent to our union, then take my treasure! DALAND (looking at the contents of the chest in utter DALAND astonishment) Yes, stranger, I have a lovely daughter, What? Is it possible? This treasure! devoted to me with the true love of a child: Who’s rich enough to give a price for it? she is my pride, my greatest blessing, my comfort in misfortune, my joy in success. DUTCHMAN The price? I have just named it: DUTCHMAN all this for one night’s shelter! May she always love her father: Yet what you see is but the smallest part True to him, she’ll be true to her husband, too. of what is stowed in my ship’s hold. What use is treasure? DALAND I have neither wife nor child, You give jewels, priceless pearls, and my home I shall never find! but the peerless gem, a true wife... All my riches I offer you, if you give me a new home with your family. DUTCHMAN You give to me? DALAND What do I hear? DALAND I give you my word. DUTCHMAN I am moved by your grim fate; Have you a daughter? generous as you are you show a noble heart and mind: DALAND I would like my son-in-law so; and were you Indeed I have, a good child. not so rich, I’d still choose no other. DUTCHMAN DUTCHMAN Let her be my wife! My thanks! Shall I see your daughter today? DALAND DALAND (joyfully taken aback) The first fair wind will take us home, What? Did I hear aright? you shall see her, and if you like her... My daughter his wife? It is his own suggestion! DUTCHMAN I almost fear that if I hesitate She shall be mine..