FLYING DUTCHMAN, THE

(Der Fliegende Hollinder) Composer: RICHARD WAGNER Book by the composer First performance: Hoftheater, Dresden, January 2, 1843 3 acts. BASED ON THE LEGEND of the Flying Dutchman, this is the history of Van der dec ken who vowed he could sail around the Cape of Good Hope in spite of bad weather. As payment for such a rash oath he was doomed to sail until he could find a woman who would be eternally true to him. WVanderdecken meets a Norwegian sea captain, Daland. He tells Daland about the rich cargo he is carrying and offers to pay well to stay at Daland’s home which is not far from the port in which they meet. In the Daland household, meantime, Senta, the daughter, gazes at a picture of the Flying Dutchman. To her amazement his reincarnation appears in the doorway with her father. Erik, who loves her, has been in despair because of her obse ion with the picture and her desire to free the man from his endle pilgrimage on the sea, After Van der dec ken and Senta are alone together she quickly accepts his offer of marriage. Later, however, Van der dec ken sees Senta pursued by Erik and decides if she would give up one man she might another. Without any warning he therefore boards his ship and sails away. Senta, rushing to the top of a cliff, screams that she has been faithful unto death and leaps into the sea. At this the ship sinks and in the background the pair can be seen mounting heavenward together.