A Night at the Opera – “The Flying Dutchman”

Sun 20 Mar 2016, 7 pm
Cinematheque

From the organizer:

You are invited to the screening of Richard Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer).

The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer), is a German-language opera by Richard Wagner. It is the first opera in which Wagner’s musical and operatic maturity is advanced as regards thematic handling and portrayal of emotions and orchestration, musical styles that were further developed in his later operas. Wagner uses a number of leitmotifs (literally, ‘leading motifs’) associated with the characters and themes. The leitmotifs are all introduced in the overture and repeated throughout the opera.

The story of the opera revolves around a ghostly ship captain who once invoked Satan; the ghost captain is cursed to roam the sea forever without rest. An angel brought to him the terms of his redemption: every seven years the waves will cast him upon the shore; if he can find a wife who will be true to him he will be released from his curse. The captain’s ship is dashed against a vessel that has taken refuge in a storm and the grappling irons hold the two ships together. The captain of the vessel seeking refuge has an unmarried daughter named Senta, and he agrees to the marriage in return for a treasure chest. The south wind blows and both vessels set sail for Daland’s home where the betrothed daughter will meet the man she can marry and save from eternal torment, but not before her former boyfriend enters the drama to warn her of the terms of the marriage agreement.

The opera will be screened in the original German with English subtitles.

For those with membership at the Cinémathèque, please make a reservation as usual by phoning the Cinémathèque, daily between 14:30 – 21:00 at 3936-2648. A limited number of tickets are also available through the Opera Guild, send an email to [email protected]. A donation of VND 60,000 is suggested.

Watch a part of the opera here:
[youtube width=”700″ height=”393″]https://youtu.be/hsSmFnHd_J8[/youtube]