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© Wiener Staatsoper
The Flying Dutchman
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 May 2026 | ||||||
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The Flying Dutchman – Richard Wagner | Opera
Duration: approx. 135 minutes
Synopsis
A storm has caused the sailor Daland's ship to drift into a bay shortly before his return home.
The helmsman on watch falls asleep. Suddenly, a large ship approaches and drops anchor with a crash. Its captain, the Flying Dutchman, is cursed to sail the seas forever. But he is allowed to go ashore every seven years to find a woman who will redeem him through her loyalty.
The Dutchman meets Daland and learns that he has a daughter, Senta. He asks Daland for hospitality and Senta's hand in marriage. In Daland's house, the women await the returning sailors. Senta sings a ballad about the fate of the Flying Dutchman, who once swore to sail off an impregnable cape until he had sailed around it, even if it meant forever. Satan cursed him to do so.
Senta wants to be the woman who releases him from this curse. The hunter Erik, who fears losing Senta's love, wants to dissuade her from her fantastic preoccupation with the Flying Dutchman.
Daland arrives with the Dutchman. As if in a dream, Senta and the Dutchman realize that they belong together - the Dutchman demands and Senta promises eternal fidelity. Daland's sailors celebrate their return home and the women prepare for the engagement. The sailors invite the crew on the Flying Dutchman's ship to celebrate, but they don't move. Suddenly the sea rises, and the dead men let out a terrifying song.
Erik wants to keep Senta from her union with the Flying Dutchman and reminds her of an earlier promise of fidelity. The Dutchman hears this and believes he has been betrayed by Senta. He releases her to save her from death. He flees to his ship.
Senta throws herself into the sea to save him. The ship sinks.
Program and cast
Daland - Franz-Josef Selig
Erik - Andreas Schager
Mary - Stephanie Maitland
Daland's Helmsman - Hiroshi Amako
The Dutchman - Tomasz Konieczny
Conductor - Bertrand de Billy
Director - Christine Mielitz
Set Design - Stefan Mayer
Dramaturgy - Eva Walch
Vienna State Opera
Public Transport
Subway lines: U1, U2, U4
Trams: 1, 2, D, J, 62, 65
Buses: 59A
Local Railway: Badner Bahn
Stops: Karlsplatz / Opera
Taxi stands are available nearby.
Parking
Parking is only € 6, - for eight hours!
The Wiener Staatsoper and the ÖPARK Kärntner Ring Garage on Mahlerstraße 8, under the “Ringstraßengalerien”, offer the patrons of the Vienna State Opera a new, reduced parking fee. You can park in the Kärntner Ring Garage for up to 8 hours and pay only a flat fee of € 6, -. Just validate your ticket at one of the discount machines inside the Wiener Staatsoper. The normal rate will be charged for parking time greater than 8 hours. The validation machines can be found at the following coat checks: Operngasse, Herbert von Karajan-Platz, and the right and left and balcony galleries.
Important: In order to get the discount, please draw a ticket and do not use your credit card when entering the garage!
After devaluing your ticket in the Wiener Staatsoper you can pay comfortably by credit card or cash at the vending machines.
The machines accept coins and bills up to 50.- Euro. Parking time longer than 8 hours will be charged at the normal rate.
History
The structure of the opera house was planned by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg, while the inside was designed by interior decorator Eduard van der Nüll. It was also impacted by other major artists such as Moritz von Schwind, who painted the frescoes in the foyer, and the famous "Zauberflöten" (“Magic Flute”) series of frescoes on the veranda. Neither of the architects survived to see the opening of ‘their’ opera house: the sensitive van der Nüll committed suicide, and his friend Sicardsburg died of a stroke soon afterwards.
On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
The popularity of the building grew under the artistic influence of the first directors: Franz von Dingelstedt, Johann Herbeck, Franz Jauner, and Wilhelm Jahn. The Vienna opera experienced its first high point under the direction of Gustav Mahler. He completely transformed the outdated performance system, increased the precision and timing of the performances, and also utilized the experience of other noteworthy artists, such as Alfred Roller, for the formation of new stage aesthetics.
The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played.
On March 12, 1945, the opera house was devastated during a bombing, but on May 1, 1945, the “State Opera in the Volksoper” opened with a performance of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. On October 6, 1945, the hastily restored “Theaters an der Wien” reopened with Beethoven's FIDELIO. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt at a great expense.
The Secretary of State for Public Works, Julius Raab, announced on May 24, 1945, that reconstruction of the Vienna State Opera would begin immediately. Only the main facade, the grand staircase, and the Schwind Foyer had been spared from the bombs. On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a new auditorium and modernized technology. Under the direction of Karl Böhm, Beethoven’s FIDELIO was brilliantly performed, and the opening ceremonies were broadcast by Austrian television. The whole world understood that life was beginning again for this country that had just regained its independence.
Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. It has been under the direction of Dominique Meyer since September 1, 2010.
© Wiener Staatsoper
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