Wagner claimed in his 1870 autobiography Mein Leben that he had been inspired to write the opera following a stormy sea crossing he made from Riga to London in July and August 1839. In his 1843 Autobiographic Sketch, Wagner acknowledged he had taken the story from Heinrich Heine's retelling of the legend in his 1833 satirical novel The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski (Aus den Memoiren des Herrn von Schnabelewopski). The central theme is redemption through love.
| Original Name | Der fliegende Holländer |
| Librettist | Richard Wagner (Based on the satirical novel "Aus den Memoiren des Herrn von Schnabelewopski" ("The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski") by Heinrich Heine) |
| Date of composition | 1841 (1840-1841) |
| Premiered | 1843, January 2nd in Dresden, Germany by Richard Wagner |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | WWV 63 |
| Approx. duration | 140 minutes |
| Spoken language | German |
| Instruments |
Voice (Bass)
- Daland, ein norwegischer Seefahrer (a Norwegian sea captain)
Voice (Soprano) - Senta, seine Tochter (Daland's daughter) Voice (Tenor) - Erik, ein Jäger (a huntsman) Voice (Alto) - Mary, Sentas Amme (Senta's nurse) Voice (Tenor) - Der Steuermann Dalands (Daland's steersman) Voice (Baritone) - Der Holländer (The Dutchman) Chorus/Choir - Matrosen des Norwegers. Die Mannschaft des Fliegenden Holländers. Mädchen (Norwegian sailors, the Dutchman's crew, young women) Orchestra |
| Arrangements |
●
Franz Liszt: Spinnerlied aus dem Fliegenden Holländer, S. 440
● Franz Liszt: Ballade from Wagner's opera 'The Flying Dutchman, S. 441 |
| Autotranslations beta |
Richard Wagner: The Flying Dutchman, WWV 63 Richard Wagner: The Flying Dutchman, WWV 63 Richard Wagner: The Flying Dutchman, WWV 63 |