Synopsis
Season 14 of Great Performances at the Met continues Sunday, July 5 at 12 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) with Wagner’s eerie early masterpiece Der Fliegende Holländer. Evgeny Nikitin stars as the cursed Dutchman, alongside Anja Kampe as Senta with Franz-Josef Selig as Daland and Sergey Skorokhodov as Erik. Valery Gergiev conducts.
Director François Girard’s new production is set on the Norwegian coast during the 19th century. A storm has driven Captain Daland’s ship several miles from home. Daland sends his crew to rest and leaves a young steersman in charge, who then falls asleep. A ghostly schooner drops anchor next to Daland’s ship and its captain steps ashore to reflect on his fate. Once every seven years, he leaves his ship to find a wife. If she is faithful, she will redeem him from his deathless wandering. If not, he is condemned to sail the ocean until Judgment Day. Daland discovers the phantom ship and the stranger who introduces himself as “a Dutchman.” The Dutchman offers gold and jewels for a night’s lodging. When he learns that Daland has a daughter, he asks for her hand in marriage. Happy to have found a rich son-in-law, Daland agrees and sails home.
Daland’s daughter, Senta, is captivated by the Dutchman. Senta’s friends tease her about her betrothed, Erik, who is a hunter, not a sailor. As Senta sings a ballad about the Dutchman, the song reveals that the Dutchman’s curse was put on him for a blasphemous oath. Senta declares that she will be the woman to save him from the curse. Erik reminds Senta of her father’s wish to find a husband and asks her to plead his case, but she remains distant. A moment later, the Dutchman enters, and Senta stands transfixed. Daland follows and asks his daughter to welcome the Dutchman, whom he has brought to be her husband. Daland leaves, and the Dutchman, who is equally moved by the meeting, asks Senta if she will accept him. Unaware of her knowledge of his identity, he warns her of making a rash decision, but she vows to be faithful to him until death.
At the harbor, the villagers’ celebration is interrupted by supernatural apparitions. Erik pleads with Senta not to marry the Dutchman because she has already pledged her love to him. The Dutchman overhears them, loses hope and prepares to return to sea. Lisette Oropesa hosts.
Short Listing
Experience this new production of Wagner’s masterpiece about a sea captain cursed to sail forever.
Long Listing
Experience Wagner’s eerie early masterpiece telling the tale of the sea captain cursed to sail for eternity. François Girard’s new production stars Evgeny Nikitin in the title role opposite Anja Kampe in her Met debut. Valery Gergiev conducts.
Notable Talent
- Evgeny Nikitin – Dutchman
- Anja Kampe – Senta
- Franz-Josef Selig – Daland
- Sergey Skorokhodov – Erik
- David Portillo – Steersman
- Lisette Oropesa – Host
Run time: 2 hours and 30 min
Production Credits
- Valery Gergiev – Conductor
- Gary Halvorson – Director
- François Girard – Production
- Carolyn Choa – Choreographer
- Moritz Junge – Costume Designer
- David Finn – Lighting Designer
For the Met, Gary Halvorson directs the telecast. David Frost is Music Producer. Mia Bongiovanni and Elena Park are Supervising Producers, and Louisa Briccetti and Victoria Warivonchik are Producers. Peter Gelb is Executive Producer. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is Series Producer; David Horn is Executive Producer.
Underwriters
Corporate support for Great Performances at the Met is provided by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury home builder®. This Great Performances at the Met presentation is funded by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation and public television viewers.
Series Overview
Great Performances at the Met is a presentation of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET, bringing the best of the Metropolitan Opera into the homes of classical music fans across the United States.
Websites: http://pbs.org/gperf, http://facebook.com/GreatPerformances, @GPerfPBS, http://youtube.com/greatperformancespbs #GreatPerformancesPBS
