大象传媒

ACT I

A violent storm has driven Daland鈥檚 ship several miles from his home on the Norwegian coast. Sending his crew off to rest, he leaves the watch in charge of a young steersman, who falls asleep as he sings a ballad about his girl (鈥淢it Gewitter und Sturm鈥�). A ghostly schooner drops anchor next to Daland鈥檚 ship. Its captain steps ashore and, with increasing despair, reflects on his fate (鈥淒ie Frist ist um鈥�): Once every seven years he may leave his ship to find a wife. If she is faithful, she will redeem him from his deathless wandering. If not, he is condemned to sail the ocean until Judgment Day. When Daland discovers the phantom ship, the stranger, who introduces himself as 鈥渁 Dutchman,鈥� tells him of his plight and offers gold and jewels for a night鈥檚 lodging. When he learns that Daland has a daughter, the Dutchman asks for her hand in marriage. Happy to have found a rich son-in-law, Daland agrees and sets sail for home.

ACT II

Daland鈥檚 young daughter, Senta, is captivated by the portrait of a pale man in black鈥攖he Flying Dutchman鈥攚hile her friends sit spinning under the watchful eye of Mary, Senta鈥檚 nurse. The girls tease Senta about her suitor, Erik, who is not a sailor but a hunter. When the superstitious Mary refuses to sing a ballad about the Dutchman, Senta sings it herself (鈥淭raft ihr das Schiff im Meere an鈥�). The song reveals that the Dutchman鈥檚 curse was put on him for a blasphemous oath. To Mary and the girls鈥� horror, Senta suddenly declares that she will be the one to save him. Erik enters with news of the sailors鈥� return, and Mary and the others hurry off. Erik reminds Senta of her father鈥檚 intention to find her a husband and asks her to plead his cause, but she remains distant (鈥淢ein Herz, voll Treue bis zum Sterben鈥�). Realizing how much the Dutchman鈥檚 picture means to her, he tells her of a frightening dream in which he saw her passionately embrace the Dutchman and sail away on his ship. Senta exclaims that this is what she must do, and the despairing Erik rushes away. A moment later, the Dutchman enters. Senta stands transfixed. Daland quickly follows and asks his daughter to welcome the stranger, whom he has brought to be her husband (鈥淢枚gst du, mein Kind鈥�). After he has left, the Dutchman, who is equally moved by the meeting, asks Senta if she will accept him as her husband (Duet: 鈥淲ie aus der Ferne鈥�). Unaware that she realizes who he is, he warns her of making a rash decision, but she ecstatically vows to be faithful to him unto death. Daland returns and is overjoyed to learn that his daughter has accepted the suitor.

ACT III

At the harbor, the villagers celebrate the sailors鈥� return with singing and dancing (Chorus: 鈥淪teuermann, lass die Wacht!鈥�). Perplexed by the strange silence aboard the Dutchman鈥檚 ship, they call out to the crew, inviting them to join the festivities. Suddenly the ghostly sailors appear, mocking their captain鈥檚 quest in hollow chanting. The villagers run away in terror. Quiet returns and Senta enters, followed by the distressed Erik. He pleads with her not to marry the Dutchman, insisting that she has already pledged her love to him (鈥淲illst jenes Tag鈥檚鈥�). The Dutchman, who has overheard them, loses all hope of salvation and goes toward his ship. Senta tries to stop him but he explains that since she has not yet proclaimed her vows before God, she will escape eternal damnation鈥攖he fate of those who betray him. His crew prepares to cast off and he declares that he is the Flying Dutchman of legend. Senta ecstatically replies that she knows who he is. As the ship pulls away, she throws herself into the sea, crying that she is faithful unto death.