The Flying Dutchman

Composer: WAGNER, Richard
  • Wagner composed Der fliegende Holländer (WWV 63) in 1840-1841. It premiered on January 2, 1843,1 at the Königliches Sächsisches Hoftheater (translate to Royal Saxon High Theater) in Dresden.2
  • Wagner began his position as Second Kapellmeister for the King of Saxony’s court in Dresden in March of 1843. Read more about that on the Research Site, or in more depth here. 
  • Though Wagner wrote his own libretto (as usual), he based the libretto for this opera a work by German poet Heinrich Heine, Aus den Memoiren des Herren von Schnabelewopski.3 
  • In his autobiography, Wagner claimed that The Flying Dutchman was partly inspired by the frightening nighttime sea voyage he and his wife Minna (and their dog Robber) took from Riga to London in 1839 to escape creditors. It is inclear how much of Wagner’s story is true, but it’s a great story. You can read a short version here and a long version (with lots of details about Robber the Newfoundland dog) here. 
  • Synopsis from The Metropolitan Opera 

Sources

  1. “Der fliegende Holländer, WWV 63 (Wagner, Richard),” IMSLP, accessed May 26, 2021, https://imslp.org/wiki/Der_fliegende_Holl%C3%A4nder%2C_WWV_63_(Wagner%2C_Richard).
  2. Barry Millington, “Fliegende Holländer, Der,” Grove Music Online (2002), accessed May 27, 2021, https:/www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-5000003241.
  3. Ibid.

Cut IDs

11700 14049 14050 14050 40536 40647 44856