Les Arts proposes a new foray into the universe of Wagner with ‘The Flying Dutchman’, his first masterpiece

Les Arts és Òpera

• James Gaffigan conducts his final opera as principal conductor of Les Arts, presented in a monumental production by acclaimed director Willy Decker
• Outstanding Wagnerian voices make up the cast with Nicholas Brownlee, Elisabet Strid, Franz-Josef Selig and Stanislas de Barbeyrac

Valencia (25.02.25). The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía proposes a new foray into the universe of Richard Wagner with 'Der fliegende Holländer' ('The Flying Dutchman'), the composer's first masterpiece, which will be performed from March 2 to 14 in the Main Hall.

The artistic director of Les Arts, Jesús Iglesias Noriega, presented this title to the media today along with its musical director, James Gaffigan, and the stage director of the revival, Stefan Heinrichs.

“Les Arts continues in 2025 with its commitment to one of its favorite composers: Richard Wagner. After the premiere of 'The Ring Without Words', conducted by Gustavo Gimeno, it is time to introduce another work never before seen in the theater's repertoire, 'The Flying Dutchman', his first great success and the only one of his early operas to be performed at the Bayreuth Festival, in which Wagner already outlines the lines of his revolutionary musical style,” he noted.

Les Arts premieres Willy Decker's acclaimed production, with set and costume design by Wolfgang Gussmann and lighting by Hans Tölstede. The German director, one of the leading names in European theater, has already received praise from Les Arts for his productions of 'La Traviata' and 'Peter Grimes'. His staging, characterized by its monumental yet minimalist sets and masterful lighting design, delves into the psychological drama of the work.

Following his acclaimed performances of 'Tristan und Isolde' in 2023, James Gaffigan conducts his final opera as music director of Les Arts with 'The Flying Dutchman'. The New York maestro is currently in the final rehearsals with Les Arts' resident ensembles, the Cor de la Generalitat and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, along with the Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid and a cast of leading voices in the Wagnerian repertoire.

American baritone Nicholas Brownlee (The Dutchman) and Swedish soprano Elisabet Strid (Senta), two of the most promising young stars in the German repertoire, lead the cast of 'The Flying Dutchman'.

Nicholas Brownlee has become the leading bass-baritone for the works of Richard Wagner. A regular singer with the Bavarian, Frankfurt, and Vienna State Operas, his 2024 Bayreuth debut is complemented by his recent performances as Wotan in 'The Ring of the Nibelung' in Munich with Vladimir Jurowski and at the Paris Opera with Pablo Heras-Casado.

Elisabet Strid enjoys a busy career on the European circuit, where she is renowned for her interpretations of Wagner and Strauss. The Swedish artist, who recently caused a sensation with her portrayal of Senta at Covent Garden, will return to the London opera house to sing the role of Brünnhilde in Antonio Pappano's new production of 'The Ring of the Nibelung'.

Franz-Josef Selig (Daland) is one of the leading Wagnerian basses of our time. With engagements in Munich, New York, Milan, Paris, Vienna, Bayreuth, Salzburg, and Aix-en-Provence, he has worked with Christian Thielemann, Simon Rattle, Marek Janowski, Zubin Mehta, Semyon Bychkov, Riccardo Muti, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Antonio Pappano, Philippe Jordan, and Daniel Harding.

Since his debut at the Aix-en-Provence Festival with 'Die Zauberflöte', Stanislas de Barbeyrac (Erik) has enjoyed a rising international career, with work in major opera houses: Covent Garden, Metropolitan, Bayerische Staatsoper, Dutch National Opera and the operas of Paris and Vienna, as well as at the Aix-en-Provence and Salzburg festivals.

The Granada-born tenor Moisés Marín, a former student of the Centre de Perfeccionament de Les Arts, in the role of Steuermann (Stepper) and the Dutch soprano Eva Kroon (Mary) complete the cast.

'The Flying Dutchman' is a production of the Teatro Regio di Torino, originally from the Opéra National de Paris. Les Arts has scheduled five performances of the opera on March 2, 5, 8, 11, and 14.

'The Flying Dutchman'

Richard Wagner drew inspiration from Heinrich Heine's novel 'Memoirs of Master Schnabelewopski' to write the libretto for 'The Flying Dutchman,' the story of a Dutch captain condemned to sail eternally on his ghost ship until the faithful love of a woman breaks the curse. Redemption comes in the form of Senta, the daughter of the Norwegian sailor Daland, who sacrifices her life to save the Dutchman.