Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman)

The first performance of Der fliegende Holländer was held in Königlich Sächsisches Hoftheater on 2 January 1843. The world premiere was conducted by Richard Wagner. The first production of Der fliegende Holländer ath the Bayreuth Festival was in 1901.

Simon Estes in the ground breaking production by Harry Kupfer in Bayreuth

Simon Estes in the ground breaking production by Harry Kupfer in Bayreuth (1978-85). This production was filmed in 1985 and is available on DVD.

 

Der fliegende Holländer was produced in the following cities the first years after the world premiere in 1843

1843 Riga
Kassel
1844 Berlin (well received by the public, but not revived before 1868)
1852 Zürich (conducted by Wagner)
1853 Weimar (Franz Liszt)
[...]  
1901 Bayreuth: First production (see poster below)

 

 

Poster from the first year Der fliegende Holländer was produced at Bayreuth

 

Holländer Puppets

The puppets used at the end of Bayreuth's 1901 production.

 

Said about Der fliegende Holländer

Richard Wagner

The figure of the "Flying Dutchman" is a mythical creation of the Folk: a primal trait of human nature speaks out from it with heart-enthralling force. This trait, in its most universal meaning, is the longing after rest from amid the storms of life.
Richard Wagner in "A Communication to my Friends

Calixto Bieito

My interpretation of the Dutchman is very simple: It is the story of the Western European man today, who is losing his job in this kind of economic system we have today. He is depressive, thinking about where he can find loyalty, fidelity, solidarity - where he can find something true.
Calixto Bieito


 

Catarina Ligendza

Catarina Ligendza as Senta in Der fliegende Holländer (film version from 1974, available on DVD).

Der fliegende Holländer in different languages

German title
Der fliegende Holländer

English title
The Flying Dutchman

French title
La Vaisseau Fantôme

Spanish title
El holandés errante

Polish title
Latający Holender

Hungarian title
A bolygó hollandi

Dutch title
De Vliegende Hollander

Danish title
Den flyvende hollænder

Swedish title
Den flygande holländaren

Norwegian title
Den flyvende hollender

Finnish title
Lentävä hollantilainen

 

Wagner operas in other languages

 

The Flying Dutchman: Articles and reviews

Bayreuth 2012: Mark Berry: The Flying Dutchman (Gloger)

Bayreuth 2015: Erling E. Guldbrandsen: The Flying Dutchman (Gloger)

Jerry Floyd on Haenchen/Kušej: Der fliegende Holländer

Royal Opera House 2011: Mark Berry on Tim Albery's Dutchman