Description

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Der fliegende Holländer is the first of Wagner's operas considered to be representative of his mature style. It embodies one of the major themes that recur throughout his work, that of a central character seeking redemption from a loving woman. Originally taken from a story by the poet Heinrich Heine, Wagner extended and enriched his musical and dramaturgical language to produce an opera of extraordinary power.

In this guide, John Warrack places the opera in the context of emerging German Romanticism, John Deathridge highlights and explores the musical riches of the score and William Vaughan reviews the importance of myth to Wagner and his contemporaries. Mike Ashman explains the particular way in which Wagner turned the Dutchman legend to his own purposes and Katherine Syer outlines certain themes of the opera in relation to its performance history. Wagner's own programme note about the overture and his instructions to performers are also included.

The present guide contains the full German libretto and English translation by Lionel Salter, thirty-one black and white and colour illustrations, a musical thematic guide, a discography, a bibliography, and DVD and website guides. It is intended to enrich and extend readers' appreciation and enjoyment of this exciting work by one of the world's greatest opera composers.

Overture Opera Guides are published in association with English National Opera.

English National Opera, based at the London Coliseum, is a creative and vibrant home for compelling, high-quality theatrical productions created by imaginative stage directors and designers from across the arts, performed by leading British and international artists.

About the Author

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Richard Wagner (1813-83) was a composer who drew inspiration from Christian and Nordic mythology, as well as the philosophy of Schopenhauer, to pioneer dramatically new forms of music. His concept of the "Total Artwork" led to the construction of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, an opera house he designed specifically for productions of his own operas. He also wrote widely on music and art. His operas include Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and the four parts of Der Ring des Nibelungen.

Praise For…

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“Excellent new Overture Opera Guide to Wagner's Flying Dutchman.” —Evening Standard

“For anyone with a keen interest in opera, whatever their level of knowledge, this series remains a benchmark of quality and clarity. The content is serious, reliable and trustworthy, handsomely put together, full of variety and scholarship but always making the practical experience of going to the opera a priority. I return to these volumes again and again and find the updated and new issues absolutely invaluable.” —Fiona Maddocks

“Beautifully produced and designed … they are terrific value.” —Rupert Christiansen, The Daily Telegraph

“For everything you need to know, concisely packaged.” —The Telegraph

“I am delighted to see the return of the ENO Opera Guides, bigger and even more authoritative than before. There are authoritative new articles as well as several of the irreplaceable originals, the presentation is very handsome and a decided gain is the brilliantly chosen selection of production images, in colour as well as black and white. The Guides are an invaluable reference for opera lovers at any level.” —David Nice

“Increasingly indispensable.” —BBC Music Magazine

“Neat little volumes they are, handy for carrying around, clearly printed and well set-out, complete with libretto and translation, discography and a generous selection of illustrations.” —Gramophone

“These guides, so beautiful to have and to behold, mark a huge advance on their predecessors. I find them essential supplements, not only to ENO and Royal Opera programmes, but to recordings issued on CD which often come without scholarly documentation and a libretto. The performance histories … are especially valuable, and not easily accessible elsewhere.” —Hugh Canning