The Flying Dutchman: Background and Characters

Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner

In his autobiography, Wagner claimed a difficult sea crossing in 1839 was his original inspiration forThe Flying Dutchman. Whether this is true or not, Wagner definitely based his version of the story on an episode in Heinrich Heine’sAus den Memoiren des Herren von Schnabelewopski (The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski), published in Der Salon in 1834. In Heine’s story the narrator goes to a play about the famous nautical legend of the Flying Dutchman, a ghostly ship doomed to sail the seas until Judgement Day, whose captain can only be saved by the faithful love of a woman. While Heine’s tale was intended as a satire, Wagner chose to remove this element and wrote a first draft of his serious version of the story in 1840, with a strong emphasis on the theme of redemption through love. Originally set off the Scottish coast, with Daland and Erik named Donald and Georg, respectively, Wagner made eleventh-hour changes while the opera was in rehearsals for its premiere, choosing to move the setting to the Norwegian coast. Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman premiered in Dresden on January 2, 1843.

This is a COC production and was last performed in 2000. The performances this season will Sung in German with English SURTITLES™ take place on April 24, 28, May 2, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 2010 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Book your school group tickets now! Call COC Group Sales at 416-306-2356 or e-mail MAIN CHARACTERS [email protected]. In order of vocal appearance

Name Description Voice Type Pronunciation Daland Captain of a Norwegian ship and Senta’s father bass DAH-lahnt The Steersman Mate of Daland’s ship tenor The Dutchman Ship’s captain baritone Mary Senta’s elderly nurse alto Senta Daland’s daughter soprano ZEHN-tah Erik A huntsman tenor Chorus of Norwegian Maidens, Crew of Daland’s ship, and Crew of The Flying Dutchman

Canadian Opera Company ~ Education and Outreach ~ The Flying Dutchman Study Guide 2009/2010 ~ coc.ca ~ 416-306-2392