The Flying Dutchman
Richard WagnerOCTOBER 7, 9, 13, 15, 19, 21, AND 23, 2022
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Performance time is approximately two hours and 35 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission
HOUSE PROGRAM
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In a fishing village, a young woman named Senta has become infatuated with the story of the Flying Dutchman, a sea captain condemned to sail for eternity. Legend has it that he has been cursed, and can only step ashore once every seven years—unless he finds true love.
When a ghostly ship anchors near her town’s harbour, Senta’s fantasies are put to the test in director Christopher Alden’s visually striking production, inspired by classic Expressionist cinema and Wagner’s feverish, Romantic score.
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAMS
Conductor: Johannes Debus
Original Director: Christopher Alden
Revival Director: Marilyn Gronsdal
Set & Costume Designer: Allen Moyer
Lighting Designer: Anne Militello
Price Family Chorus Master: Sandra Horst
Intimacy Coordinator: Lisa Stevens
The Dutchman: Johan Reuter
Senta: Marjorie Owens
Daland: Franz-Josef Selig
The Steersman: Miles Mykkanen
Erik: Christopher Ventris
Mary: Rosie Aldridge
With the COC Orchestra and Chorus
A Canadian Opera Company production
Production underwritten in part by Lisa Balfour Bowen and Family in memory of Walter Bowen and in honour of Alexander Neef
Johan Reuter is generously sponsored by Kristine Vikmanis & Denton Creighton
Christopher Ventris is generously sponsored by Rob & Penny Richards
The COC Orchestra is generously sponsored, in part, by W. Bruce C. Bailey, in honour of Christie Darville, COC Deputy General Director, and Johannes Debus, COC Music Director
SYNOPSIS IN A MINUTE
The Dutchman is a doomed sailor cursed to sail the seas without respite, only able to set foot on shore for one day every seven years. If he can find a woman on that day who will vow to love him until death, his curse will be broken. The Dutchman meets Senta, who falls in love with him. But when her former suitor threatens the pact, she proves her love by sacrificing herself, and thus saving both her soul and that of the Dutchman.
FULL SYNOPSIS
Scene I
On Daland’s ship
Daland, a sea-captain, drops anchor near his home harbour, and orders the Steersman to keep watch. The tired man falls asleep and fails to see the arrival of the Dutchman’s ship, which anchors beside Daland’s vessel. When Daland discovers the strange ship he calls to its captain, who identifies himself simply as “a Dutchman” and offers a rich reward for one night’s lodging. He then offers his fabulous treasure as a dowry for the hand of Daland’s daughter, and Daland eagerly agrees.
Scene II
Daland’s home
Daland’s daughter, Senta, stares at a portrait of the Flying Dutchman while the women around her sing as they work. Senta then sings a song about the Dutchman, a sea-captain condemned by Satan to sail for eternity. He is permitted to set foot on land only once every seven years, to search for salvation in a woman’s love. Mary, Senta’s companion, scolds Senta for her obsession with this legend, and tells her that when her father returns, she will ask him to remove from the house the picture of the Dutchman. Erik, Senta’s suitor, enters to say that he has seen her father’s ship sailing towards harbour. He presses her to ask her father to give him her hand. Senta, however, continues to speak of her fascination with the Flying Dutchman, and Erik tells her of a dream in which he saw her embrace a strange seaman. In despair, Erik leaves.
Daland then enters with his guest, and Senta is mesmerized by the Dutchman, whom she recognizes from the portrait. Daland explains that the stranger has asked for her hand in marriage and leaves the couple together. Senta agrees to marry the Dutchman.
Scene III
By the Dutchman’s ship
After a party of celebrating sailors and their women are terrified by an encounter with the Dutchman’s ghostly crew, Erik and Senta enter. Erik is angry, as he has learned that Senta has accepted the hand of the Dutchman. As Erik reminds Senta of her promise to love him, the Dutchman enters and overhears the exchange. Convinced that Senta is lost to him, the Dutchman is overwhelmed with despair. He tells Senta of the curse and sets sail with his men. Proclaiming her eternal faithfulness to the Dutchman, Senta throws herself into the sea and dies.



COC NEWS: STEP INTO THE DESIGN VISION OF THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
Learn more about the production's fascinating visuals, costumes, props, and wigs! Read on.
Johannes Debus: Celebrating 12 Years at the Podium
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Sung in German with English SURTITLESTM
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAMS
Conductor: Johannes Debus
Original Director: Christopher Alden
Revival Director: Marilyn Gronsdal
Set & Costume Designer: Allen Moyer
Lighting Designer: Anne Militello
Price Family Chorus Master: Sandra Horst
Intimacy Coordinator: Lisa Stevens
The Dutchman: Johan Reuter
Senta: Marjorie Owens
Daland: Franz-Josef Selig
The Steersman: Miles Mykkanen
Erik: Christopher Ventris
Mary: Rosie Aldridge
With the COC Orchestra and Chorus
A Canadian Opera Company production
Production underwritten in part by Lisa Balfour Bowen and Family in memory of Walter Bowen and in honour of Alexander Neef
Johan Reuter is generously sponsored by Kristine Vikmanis & Denton Creighton
Christopher Ventris is generously sponsored by Rob & Penny Richards
The COC Orchestra is generously sponsored, in part, by W. Bruce C. Bailey, in honour of Christie Darville, COC Deputy General Director, and Johannes Debus, COC Music Director
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SYNOPSIS IN A MINUTE
The Dutchman is a doomed sailor cursed to sail the seas without respite, only able to set foot on shore for one day every seven years. If he can find a woman on that day who will vow to love him until death, his curse will be broken. The Dutchman meets Senta, who falls in love with him. But when her former suitor threatens the pact, she proves her love by sacrificing herself, and thus saving both her soul and that of the Dutchman.
FULL SYNOPSIS
Scene I
On Daland’s ship
Daland, a sea-captain, drops anchor near his home harbour, and orders the Steersman to keep watch. The tired man falls asleep and fails to see the arrival of the Dutchman’s ship, which anchors beside Daland’s vessel. When Daland discovers the strange ship he calls to its captain, who identifies himself simply as “a Dutchman” and offers a rich reward for one night’s lodging. He then offers his fabulous treasure as a dowry for the hand of Daland’s daughter, and Daland eagerly agrees.
Scene II
Daland’s home
Daland’s daughter, Senta, stares at a portrait of the Flying Dutchman while the women around her sing as they work. Senta then sings a song about the Dutchman, a sea-captain condemned by Satan to sail for eternity. He is permitted to set foot on land only once every seven years, to search for salvation in a woman’s love. Mary, Senta’s companion, scolds Senta for her obsession with this legend, and tells her that when her father returns, she will ask him to remove from the house the picture of the Dutchman. Erik, Senta’s suitor, enters to say that he has seen her father’s ship sailing towards harbour. He presses her to ask her father to give him her hand. Senta, however, continues to speak of her fascination with the Flying Dutchman, and Erik tells her of a dream in which he saw her embrace a strange seaman. In despair, Erik leaves.
Daland then enters with his guest, and Senta is mesmerized by the Dutchman, whom she recognizes from the portrait. Daland explains that the stranger has asked for her hand in marriage and leaves the couple together. Senta agrees to marry the Dutchman.
Scene III
By the Dutchman’s ship
After a party of celebrating sailors and their women are terrified by an encounter with the Dutchman’s ghostly crew, Erik and Senta enter. Erik is angry, as he has learned that Senta has accepted the hand of the Dutchman. As Erik reminds Senta of her promise to love him, the Dutchman enters and overhears the exchange. Convinced that Senta is lost to him, the Dutchman is overwhelmed with despair. He tells Senta of the curse and sets sail with his men. Proclaiming her eternal faithfulness to the Dutchman, Senta throws herself into the sea and dies.
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COC NEWS: STEP INTO THE DESIGN VISION OF THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
Learn more about the production's fascinating visuals, costumes, props, and wigs! Read on.
-
Pre-Performance Chat with Johannes Debus
Johannes Debus: Celebrating 12 Years at the Podium
2022/2023 season creative: BT/A