‘The Flying Dutchman’ at Opera Holland Park

Wagner’s first big international success at the age of 29, and the first in his canon of ten famous operas, was The Flying Dutchman. Its performance at Opera Holland Park under the baton of Peter Selwyn carried a huge punch. The open stage surrounding an open orchestra pit under the tent roof allowed the sound to swell out among the audience, and made for a gripping experience.

In most productions the three acts are performed without a break in order to let tension build, but here the welcome interval between Acts 1 and 2 didn’t seem to affect that at all. On our return to the auditorium the action was in the local village where Senta lives with her father Daland. There she dreams of her impossible love for the legendary Dutchman who is condemned to sail the seas forever until he finds a woman who will be true until death. The Dutchman’s ship carries abundant treasure and Daland will gladly give his daughter away, while she yearns to join the Dutchman and bring his endless wanderings to a conclusion. But it is not to be. Senta once pledged herself to a fine local man named Erik, and the Dutchman realises that he has lost this chance of redemption. He sails away, and only Senta’s sacrifice of her life in the deep waters finally releases him from his (and indeed her) torments.

Bringing all this to life in a production directed by Julia Burbach, with simple but effective designs by Naomi Dawson, were the singers themselves. Robert Winslade Anderson made a sympathetic Daland, if rather underpowered vocally at the start, and as his daughter Senta, Eleanor Dennis showed superb vocal power. Her great duet with the boldly sung Dutchman of Paul Carey Jones was simply magnificent, and raised the performance to a new level. Neal Cooper made a highly effective and sympathetic Erik, and Colin Judson, making his Holland Park debut, was a wonderful vocal presence as the Steersman.

The chorus has a big role and it produced a magnificent sound. Both choruses were excellent, one for the crew of Daland’s ship and one off-stage for the Dutchman’s ship. The main chorus appeared running down the aisles of the auditorium carrying the ship’s ropes, and I loved the ghosts from the mysterious Flying Dutchman, who also moved through the auditorium. Their spooky presence, with their faces covered was very effective, and it helped the mysterious atmosphere in this gripping performance of Dutchman. Opera Holland Park have further treats in store this summer, but this is not to be missed — further performances on May 31 and June 5, 7, 12, 14.

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