I have loved opera and classical music for as long as I can remember now, and Wagner was a composer I more appreciated at first but now love. Der Fliegende Hollander is not my favourite Wagner opera, but it is a great one, in fact I don't think there is a Wagner opera I dislike. This is one of my personal favourite productions of any of Wagner's operas.
I love the atmospheric costume and set design, the excellent video directing and the imaginative staging particularly in the final scene. The orchestra play absolutely wonderfully, as soon as the opening note of the Overture blared I knew we were in for a treat when it came to the music and I was right, and the conducting is clearly passionate.
The performances are great, likewise with the Chorus. Hildegard Behrens is an ideal Senta and the title role is very effectively sung and acted courtesy of Franz Grundheber, but my favourite performance was that of the great Matti Salminen who is a superb Daland.
Overall, a fine production. 10/10 Bethany Cox
