Der fliegende Holländer (1975) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
2 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
8/10
Very good
TheLittleSongbird21 October 2011
I love opera and always love. Der Fliegende Hollander(The Flying Dutchman) is a fine opera, not my favourite of Wagner's operas but I love it for the characters(Dutchman especially) and the Overture is one of Wagner's best ones.

This production is very good. My favourite production is the 1989 one, and although it is controversial and I understand why some don't like it finding it is not always true to the music and libretto I also preferred the 1986 production to this.

When it comes to the lip-synching, it is rather wayward and sloppy at times. Also, the performance of Erik, the character itself is admittedly two-dimensional. While the singing is beautiful, the acting is rather too stolid for the character to be anything more than that.

However, the picture quality, sound and camera work are good, and the sets, lighting and costumes are wonderfully atmospheric(loved the storm effects). When it comes to the music, it is magnificent and it conducted and performed by the orchestra to perfection.

Bengt Rundgren has a rich voice and Daland as he should be is very ambivalent here which Rundgren conveys very well. Catarina Ligendza I agree comes across as a more lyric soprano, but she does nonetheless meet the demands of the role of Senta and acts compellingly. Faring best of all is Donald McIntyre, who brings pity, menace and tragedy to the intriguing character of the Dutchman and vocally he is very authoritative.

Overall, a very good production of an interesting opera. 8/10 Bethany Cox
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Sexiest Holländer ever
Conspirator_Slash25 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The film maybe old and studio-made, sometimes with bad lip sync, but McIntyre's Holländer shines. His voice is gorgeous (see also the Chéreau Ring), and he's incredibly beautiful, hot and young here. You can totally understand Senta. Erik? Just a boring tenor. The music... well, weird. Great Wagnerian moments and also Italian-like schemes. He searches his voice, and sometimes he finds it, but this is not his best opera. Beautiful, but not Tristan or the Ring. Sung well, it works really good.

McIntyre makes the Holländer not a cold undead, he plays a suffering, desperate man, whose only wish is to find salvation - that means, to die at last. And Senta gives him this salvation. Wonderful closing scene, the girl springs into the sea, swims to him and they embrace each other as the ship sinks.

The singers are all good, although Senta seems to me a lyric soprano, not a real Wagner-heroine. But in movie, it goes. On stage it wouldn't work.

Daland is not a Salminen type basso profondo, but he works. And we have a young Steuermann with a beautiful voice.

Also, if you want a HOT Holländer, get this. McIntyre always plays humanly, tragic characters. His Wotan is not a king, not a God - just an unhappy, lonely man.
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed