Customer Reviews

Wagner - The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Hollander) / Backman, Behrens, Grundheber, Savonlinna Opera Festival

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

On musical terms alone, this 1989 production from Savonlinna is worth acquiring - it's the first available on DVD. Grundheber, Salminen and Behrens are in excellent form (Salminen especially), with excellent work as well by the unknown Raimo Sirkia as Erik. Despite a few gaffs, the orchestra plays quite well for conductor Leif Segerstam, who manages to propel things forward with a great sense of drama and keep a widely dispersed cast together.

Soundstage is actually quite interesting, given that the performance is inside the courtyard of a castle, but stage noise does intrude now and then (how DARE the stage director get by with having Mary continue to spin while Senta sings her aria!). Picture and videography are less than state-of-the-art. Why can't we just enjoy what's happening on stage, rather than having all these fades to stock shots of ships, water, faces, etc. And not to be able to enjoy the curtain calls! Unforgivable.

Still, on musical terms alone, an enjoyable and moving production of Wagner's early work.

Wagner's Der Flieglande Hollander is probably his single most effective piece of theater. It's relatively short, and the opera moves along at an astonishingly fast clip. At this stage Wagner was not fond of sprinkling his works with long, "profound" monologues (think of Wotan's 40 minute narration in Act 2 of Die Walkure).
This performance took place at an ancient Finnish castle, and the directors obviously love the atmospheric setting as there are many shots of the outside waters and the craggly staircases of the castle. I rather like this -- for a film, it's a wonderful setting. The performance is live though, with a clapping audience, so there's no "lip-synching" that ruins so many operatic films.
Vocally this Dutchman is hard to beat. Franz Grundeheber is a genuine Wagnerian bass baritone, with an extremely dark vibrant tone. The closeups do not flatter him visually -- he's a "side" singer, and he sweats so much during the performance that his eyeshadow and mascara smear all over his face. Strangely the Dutchman is costumed in medieval armor, which doesn't really make sense. I mean, he's a sea captain. He's not Lohengrin. But this is a world-class Dutchman, and his thrilling Narrative is one of the video's highlights. If I have *one* quibble with Grundeheber it's that for a doomed sea captain he seems way too robust and vigorous. He doesn't really have that haunted, desperate quality that perhaps would make his portrayal richer.
Hildegard Behrens as Senta is also caught in her all-too-brief prime. She's lovely to look at, and a sensitive nuanced actress. Her voice already sounds a bit shrill under pressure, but it's not yet intrusive. Matti Salminen is also a vocally wonderful if stolid Daland.
The orchestral playing is disappointing. Brass is way overplayed and shrill. More distracting are the video "enhancements" like closeups of singers superimposed over shots of the ocean waves, often in the MIDDLE of a scene!!! Still, the performance is vocally so valuable these are mere annoyances in one of the best examples of Wagner on video.

What is the point of buying a DVD if you can't enjoy what you SEE as well as hear? I liked what I heard well enough, but visually, the production is stupid. The costuming is simply awful! Senta, for example, wears a silk and velvet dress (for spinning?!?) As has been mentioned in other reviews, the constant scenes of a pen and ink drawing of the Dutchman's ship superimposed over waves every time nobody is singing are more than annoying. The scenes of the (Finland's Olavinlinna)castle grounds at other points during the opera obviously have nothing to do with the story. The camera work is especially awful. Extreme close-ups of chorus members are pointless and the close-ups of main cast members are a mistake because of the heavy make-up they wear. Why the director decided to give the Steersman a fancy blanket for his nap is a mystery. Moreover, the Steersman's pawing over the treasure is a new story not invented by Wagner. If you want to film an opera in an outdoor setting, this is an example of how NOT to do it. We see the Dutchman's crew - they wear spandex outfits with nets over their faces - apparently the newest thing in attire for the dead. But, we see them entirely only when the carry the treasure chest for Daland to inspect. The rest of the time, we see only their arms waving through holes in their ship. What a strange thing for ghosts to do! The only thing worse that could happen to Wagner than Finland is Kupfer.

The best sung "Flying Dutchman" available in any format. Every CD set has a serious flaw with at least one singer in the cast and that usually being a squally Senta. The Dorati set on London has a wonderful cast but nothing comes to life. On Myto the same Senta and Dutchman are superb but the sound is poor. Some Reviewers have criticized this Savonlinna production and some rather scathingly but we are in debt to Kultur for making this production available. Behrens, Salminen and Grundheber produce beautiful sound, unstrained power and great interpretation. The Naxos recording is quite good maybe a little overrated but well sung. Gramophone refers to a Sawallisch recording on EMI but I haven't heard or seen that recording. I don't expect to
hear a better sung "Dutchman", certainly in the near future. This belongs in
your collection for its beautiful, exciting and equally inspired singing as well as for the superb playing of the orchestra conducted by the inspired Leif Segerstam. When Behrens was in good voice, she was, as here, thrilling.

I viewed this production last night. Some great singing Salminen, Grundheber and Behrens. Unknown tenors Sirkia and Silvvasti both sang musically and well. Fine young chours. Problems with synchonization of audio and video. Major orchestra problems especially the horns.

I didn't like the intros to scenes repetitive. Quite annoyed that the first note of the overture is clipped. Sound was primitave for DVD. All in all DVD and video production values not thrilling.

I am thrilled that this version of Der Fliegende Hollander is available on DVD. Many people will differ in opinion regarding the lead characters and their vocal abilities. I loved this production, from the staging and vocal point of view. Hildegard Behrens and Franz Grundheber sing well and immerse themselves in their respective characters.

In a word 'splendid'. After years of waiting, a visual production worthy of the composer has arrived. Emotive performances by all of the principals - a devious Deland, a dark and troubled Dutchman, and a redemptive Senta. Staging complimentary to the theme. I have seen and heard it performed on stage before, as well as owning it on electronic media. Everything prior had its flaws, and other reviewers here have their legitimate gripes (I guess) about this production. I say, if you want a Dutchman to watch as well as listen to with great pleasure because you just love the Dutchman you won't be sorry with this one.

I had a negative attitude going into this performance, based on other reviews here and the suspicion that all non-Met Wagners are more or less Regietheater trash. Right away, the overture was wonderfully & competently played - exciting, dramatic, as this music should be. Then it turned out this was not at all one of those 'modernized' sillinesses. Everything was tasteful and appropriate. The singing and playing was first-rate - this was intended to be a world-class, knock-out performance and it certainly is - at least the equal of a typical Bayreuth performance, actually better. The castle walls acoustics mauy have favorably reinforced the singing - who cares, it was tremendous.

To those who object to some of the liberties taken photographically - no, Virginia, you're not seeing what the attendees saw - you're seeing better. After all, we who are denied traveling to Finland in desperate quest of an acceptable 'Hollaender' have the right to a few liberties that only a film can provide. Thing is, it was tasteful and appropriate.

Of course, nothing is perfect, as Voltaire points out. They should have had dual cameras to record the faces of singers singing duets or trios and separated physically. Instead, at one point they just showed a still pic of Senta & the Dutchman while both were singing away. Dumb. And then, why not record the bows taken after the performance instead of showing credits, as the Met always does? Really dumb. BTW I speak more or less fluent German and I was not aware of synch problems. Did someone mean between the singinmg and the subtitles maybe, which makes no sense anyway? Besides, you should be following the subtitles (in German if possible), not looking down the throats of the singers all the time. Unless you're a dentist, amybe ...

Still - with this dvd you get a complete 'Dutchman' - every word, and most importantly it's the revised version instead of the really obsolete original, the way stupid Bayreuth always insists on. In fact, this performance is so to be preferred over the Harry Kupfer/Estes/Bayreuth one that I'm not going to elaborate. It would take too long.

I first purchased this DVD for two reasons. First, I was about to be in a production of Der Fliegende Hollander (in the chorus) and I wanted to get a feel for the story. Second, I wanted to hear Matti Salminen, the Finish Bass whose deep, sonorous voice is so compelling. Overall, I was not disappointed. This is a good production of one of Wagner's more accessible operas. The staging is different. Filmed inside of a Finish castle, it looks a bit odd at times. I would have preferred a more traditional stage, but I found myself getting used to it as the production went on.

Salminen is first rate as the captain and father, Daland. The hard walls of the castle really show off his resonance and power, and his acting is good (which is not always the case with many big name opera stars). Daland is really more of a supporting character in the opera, and Salminen handles it well without overshadowing the two main roles, Senta and the Dutchman.

Bass-Baritone, Franz Grundheber does a great job in the role of the tortured Dutchman. He has a power and presence that lends itself to the dark music and drama that this role demands. This is a role that can overwhelm lesser voices and actors, but Grundherber makes a believable, even sympathetic Dutchman. This is, to me, the true core of the character. He is more multi-leveled than many portray him. He is not a one-dimensional "baddy" but a sorrowful soul desperately seeking redemption.

I have other recordings with Hildegard Behrens and I must say, I have heard her better. But even with that, she is not bad and does a passable job as Senta. She is by no means a huge disappointment or a distraction, but I would say she is the weaker link in this phenomenal cast.

The chorus is also solid. The fishermen are hearty and lively and sing their chantey section quite well, and the women do an exceptional job with the "spinning chorus". I found the staging for the "ghosts" a bit odd, however. They are never actually seen, only as arms the wave from the hull of their ship. That is part of the production quality that I did find distracting. Since this was originally a television production, some of the quality and the choice of camera shots were questionable, if not down right dumb. There is lots of cutting away to graphic representations of the Dutchman's ship, which I thought looked corny.

Overall, I would recommend this DVD. It is, as I said, a great introduction to Wagner. It is a smaller opera by Wagnerian standards, the story is pretty straightforward (especially for Wagner) and the music is first rate. While not perfect, it is definitely worth it.

From Savonlinna. It's an outdoor performance and re-inforces my prejudice against them. Minimal scenery. Not even an attempt to play out the last scene. Plus the whole thing is lip sinc and although the soloists manage all right the chorus doesn't even make the attempt. Musically, the orchestra is a little raw. They play the first act and pause but then run acts 2 and 3 together. Grundheber, Behrens and Salminen and very good. On the whole I would hold out for Kupfer or some other indoor production.