Melody Moore as
Senta and Jay Hunter Morris as Erik in The Glimmerglass Festival's 2013
production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. Photo: Karli Cadel/The
Glimmerglass Festival.
Reviewed by James Karas
Francesca Zambello,
the Artistic and General Director of the Glimmerglass Festival, delivers a
thoughtful, thought-provoking and simply brilliant production of The
Flying Dutchman for 2013 season of this American showcase near
Cooperstown, New York.
The Glimmerglass Festival
takes note of the 200th anniversary of the births of Giuseppe Verdi
and Richard Wagner by producing early works by both of them. Wagner gets the
birthday cake for his 1843 opera whereas Verdi is honoured with King
for a Day, equally unknown as Un Giorno di Regno.
The Flying Dutchman, like most
operas, can be and has been subjected to all kinds of treatments by different
directors. The question was: what will Zambello and the Glimmerglass people
bring to this work. The answer came quickly, during the overture before the
curtain went up. They have a great deal to offer and they in fact deliver an
outstanding production.
The first indicators
come during the performance of the overture by The Glimmerglass Festival
Orchestra. Conductor John Keenan establishes control of the music and the
orchestra and delivers a performance of sustained power and clarity. This feat
is even more impressive because it is a relatively small orchestra.
When the curtain goes
up, we hear the music of the violent storm but also see a woman tossing in bed.
We realize that the storm and the rest of the plot are a dream sequence of
Senta’s (Melody Moore). Senta is fascinated by the story of the doomed Dutchman
who is condemned to sail the seas until he finds the love of a faithful woman.
She wants to be that woman and she dreams of his arrival.
There is some
precedent for this interpretation of the plot. In the 1978 production at
Bayreuth directed by Harry Kupfer, The
Flying Dutchman was presented as a figment of Senta’s imagination.
Zambello with Set
Designer James Noone and Costume designer Eric Teague chooses a straightforward
and very effective way of telling the story. The ship is indicated by some
scaffolding and ropes that are used by the sailors. The same ropes act as the
walls of Daland’s house.
The singing is
first-rate starting with bass-baritone Ryan McKinny in the title role. The Dutchman
is a deeply troubled man, a myth one should say, who is seeking something that
can only be granted in a dream or an imaginary world. McKinny has the vocal
power and coloration to make a convincing Dutchman and gives a sterling performance.
Melody Moore as Senta
makes a perfect match for the Dutchman of her dreams. She is fascinated by his
story while awake and we see her clutching his portrait and talking about her
dreams of him. Moore has a dramatic voice that she uses to great effect.
Bass Peter Volpe is
an excellent Daland. His Daland is a greedy busybody who is prepared to sell
his daughter. We can credit the character with having some affection for his
daughter and recognize Volpe’s singing and acting for the fine job that he does
with this less than admirable personality.
Jay Hunter Morris sings
the role of the hapless Erik who is a decent man and a very good tenor but
still does not get the girl. A fine job by Morris.
At the start of this
production, we see silhouettes of women on the ropes of a ship in the
background. We also see, as I said, Senta tossing in her bed. Near the end,
Senta, strangles herself in the same bed with the ship’s ropes rather than
throwing herself into the sea as called for in the libretto.
We then see the same
silhouette of her as in the opening scene together with the Dutchman rising
above the waves. The Dutchman and Senta have found love through
transfiguration.
An astounding
production.
_____
The Flying Dutchman by Richard Wagner opened on July 6 and will be performed twelve times
until August 24, 2013 at the Alice Busch Opera Theater, Cooperstown, New York.
Tickets and information (607) 547-0700 or www.glimmerglass.org
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