A Ghostly Voyage Awaits

The Flying Dutchman

There is no doubt that the Halloween season is upon us. You can already find pumpkins grinning and witches flying high over many a front lawn. The Lyric Opera seems to have tapped into this mania for magic and mayhem by opening their 2023-24 season with Richard Wagner’s German classic, “The Flying Dutchman.” This is a powerful, dramatic, ghostly opera in three acts, presented at the Lyric as a two hour and twenty minute one-act, just as the composer originally intended. The production is dominated by a brilliant orchestra, a spooky atmosphere, mysterious characters and a finale that’s open to interpretation. Theatergoers be warned: a ghostly voyage awaits you on North Wacker Drive.

As a gloriously thrilling, stormy, 15-minute overture, majestically conducted by Maestro Enrique Mazzola, nears its conclusion, the curtain rises on a young woman. Her back is to the audience as she desperately reaches toward the portrait of a man. He appears to be clawing at his own face, reminding the audience of Edvard Munch’s famous, expressionistic painting, The Scream. She finally gets hold of the picture and then slowly exits the stage with it. The audience is left wondering who she is, why the portrait was so important to her and how they both figure in this horror story about a ghost ship.

The stunningly gorgeous Lyric Opera production, conceived and designed by Director Christopher Alden, is simply astounding and magnificently jaw-dropping in its stark beauty. It’s like a haunting nightmare that’s been infused with a glorious musical score. The dark stage setting, with its slanting floor and large ship’s wheel, seems to hover above a red-glowing brig below deck. It features towering walls, a massive ceiling and giant windows and doors that occasionally fly open on their own. This scenic design, filled with gloom and doom, is accented with scores of characters clothed in eerie and ghoulish costumes and wigs, all designed by talented Allen Moyer and Sarah Hatten. Combined, they set the tone for this ghost story. With spooky and dramatic lighting by Anne Militello, this opera paints a frightening picture of the tragedy that awaits.

The plot of this 1843 German opera, originally called Der fliegende Holländer, was inspired by a stormy ocean crossing that Wagner once experienced. It’s based upon the legend of a ghost ship, said to never be able to make port, but doomed to sail the seven seas forever. The Dutchman was a sea captain who was navigating his ship around the Cape of Good Hope during a ferocious storm. He swore that he would succeed in his mission, even if he had to sail his ship until Judgement Day. The Devil heard his blasphemy and condemned the Dutchman to sail forever, unless he could find a woman who loved him enough and be faithful to him for life. The Devil cursed him so that he could only go ashore and search for love, every seven years.

As the opera begins, Norwegian ship captain Daland (impressive bass, Mika Kares) is fighting the elements, trying to reach port in a sheltered cove. He lives with Senta, his lovely daughter (played by magnificent dramatic soprano, Tamara Wilson). Another ship appears with black masts and blood-red sails. It belongs to the gaunt, ghostly Dutchman (the masterful bass-baritone, Tomasz Konieczny), who’s about to go ashore looking for a faithful bride. The hold of the Dutchman’s ship is filled with jewels and, when he learns that Daland has an eligible daughter, he offers his fortune to the mercenary captain. 

We meet Senta at Daland’s house, where she shares the romantic ballad of the Flying Dutchman with her girl friends. As the ladies are spinning wool, Senta shows them his portrait and, obsessed with the myth, she vows to them that she’ll rescue the Dutchman by marrying him. Senta’s boyfriend, the hunter Erik (gifted American tenor, Robert Watson), hears her and begs Senta to reconsider her decision. The Dutchman overhears their conversation and assumes that Senta no longer loves him and sets sail once again. As the Dutchman’s ship leaves, Senta proclaims her eternal love for him and dies of grief.

In addition to the leads, this impressive production also features a large, profoundly talented chorus of men and women. They portray both Daland’s crew (tenor Ryan Capozzo is a particular standout as the haunted Steersman), the Dutchman’s ghostly gang of sailors and Senta’s weaver friends. Lovely Melody Wilson nicely plays Mary, Senta’s closest companion.

Enhanced by a remarkable production design, this thrilling, tragic ghost story is delivered by a superb cast of musical talents. Gifted Conductor Enrique Mazzola and production Director Christopher Alden have wrought a mind-blowing version of Richard Wagner’s tale of love and redemption, in which a ghostly voyage awaits every theatergoer. Especially for opera lovers, this is a thrilling production not to be missed.    

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented September 23-October 7 by the Lyric Opera, 20 N. Upper Wacker Dr., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 312-827-5600 or by going www.lyricopera.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.