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Der fliegende Holländer
Richard Wagner 1813 1883
I
Daland’s ship has been driven off course close to the Norwegian coast by a storm. The sailors lower the anchor and Daland goes ashore to find out where they are. A second ship arrives, with black masts and blood-red sails. The captain of this ghostly ship is the Flying Dutchman, doomed to sail the seas forever. He is permitted to set foot on dry land once every seven years to seek redemption from his curse. He offers Daland riches in exchange for a night’s lodgings; Daland sees him as a good husband for his daughter Senta; the Dutchman hopes that she can free him from his curse by remaining faithful unto death.
II
Senta and her friends are spinning in Daland’s house, supervised by Senta’s nurse Mary. Senta is obsessed by the portrait of a dark-haired man in black and sings a ballad about the Flying Dutchman and the curse that besets him. If only she could redeem him! Erik, her betrothed, hears this last exclamation and is horrified. He tells her of a dream he had, in which her father returned home with the man from the painting and Senta welcomed the stranger passionately. Erik realises from Senta’s enthusiastic reaction that all is over between them. To Senta’s amazement, Daland arrives and introduces the Dutchman to her as a possible husband. Senta and the Dutchman both recognise that the other is the person that each of them has so long awaited. She swears to be faithful to him unto death. Daland decides to combine the feast for the safe return of the crew with Senta’s betrothal to the Dutchman. Senta repeats her oath.
III
The Norwegians invite the Dutchmen to come and join their feasting, at first in fun and then more emphatically. There is no reaction from the ghost ship, until a storm suddenly rises and sinister song is heard from the ship. Senta appears, followed by Erik, who tries to bring her to her senses. The Dutchman hears this and decides to release Senta from her vow; she, however, reaffirms it. The Dutchman tells her of his fate and that he wishes to spare her the same. He boards his ship. Senta throws herself into the sea from a cliff top. The ghostly ship sinks and the spirits of Senta and the Dutchman ascend into the skies.
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