DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER " Der Fliegende Hollander " or " The Flying Dutch man," a romantic opera in three acts with words and score by Richard Wagner, was first produced at the Royal Opera in Dresden, Jan. 2, 1843, with a Paris production the following year under the title of " The Phantom Ship." Had a hurricane not overtaken the vessel upon which Wagner made the voyage from Riga to Paris by way of London, " The Flying Dutchman " would probably never have been written. The fury of the storm suggested to the composer Heinrich Heine's poetical version of the legend, which he, with the consent of the Hebrew poet, afterward used.
Daland, a Norwegian captain.
Senta, his daughter. Erick, a hunter.
Mary, Senta's nurse. Daland's steersman. The Dutchman.
Crew of the Norwegian vessel, crew of the flying Dutchman's vessel, chorus of Norwegian maidens.
The hero of the opera is the Dutch captain, the Wandering Jew of the ocean, who, dowered with the spirit of persistence, swore when trying to double the Cape of Good Hope in a gale that he would accomplish his purpose even though he might have to plow the seas forever. His rash words were overheard by Satan, who condemned him to sail until Judgment Day unless he could escape the decree by finding a woman who would love him faithfully until death. Once in every seven years he might go on shore to seek the woman of his salvation.
As the opera opens, the Dutchman's ship is seen with black masts and blood-red sails set, making its way into a Norwegian bay, for it is the expiration of a seven years' term. Daland, whose home is near, has preceded him. The two captains are favorably impressed with each other and the Dutchman makes bold to ask to be allowed to linger a few moments by the fireside of a home, promising wonder ful gifts in return for this privilege. When he hears of the existence of the daughter Senta, he, hoping against hope that she may prove to be the faithful one, begs per mission to woo her and Daland freely grants it.
The scene is changed to Daland's home, where the room is filled with the whirr of spinning-wheels. A number of neighborhood girls are at work at the direction of Mary, Senta's old nurse. Only Senta is idle and sits with her hands in her lap, dreamily gazing at the portrait of the Flying Dutchman which hangs upon the wall and whose sad story she has heard. The girls twit her on having fallen in love with a picture when a flesh and blood lover like Erick is at hand. She admits that she would be glad to give her love to save the man whose mournful fate has touched her heart and prays that he may appear to put her words to the test. Erick comes to tell her that her father has landed and is on his way home and lingers to relate a disagreeable dream he has had in which she has fallen in love with the original of the picture on the wall and, follow ing him to sea, has been lost. Senta confesses to her jeal ous lover that she believes the dream to be a warning of her fate.
The door opens and Daland and his guest enter and Senta is transfixed to see the man of the portrait standing before her in life. She can find no words of greeting, and her father bids her show a warmer hospitality. He speaks of the wealth of the guest and asks her to listen to his wooing. It is not the thought of the treasure which draws the heart of the gentle Senta to the handsome stranger but the thought of the benefit she may bring to him. He, in turn, speedily comes to feel for the unselfish girl so genuine a love that, remembering that if she fail in her faithfulness she must be accursed with him, he now is led to dissuade her from attempting to save him. But Senta remains firm in her purpose though he paints her life with him in gloomy colors. Since she falters not, the happy wanderer exclaims, in an ecstasy of joy, She gives her hand. I conquer you, Dread powers of Hell, while she is trues and the scene ends with the plighting of their troth.