Sweden Wagner, Der fliegende Holländer: Soloists, Gothenburg Opera Refrain and Orchestra / Alevtina Ioffe (conductor). Gothenburg Opera fundamental stage, 25.2.2024. (NS)

Manufacturing:
Director – Alessandro Talevi
Set design – David Hohmann
Costume design – Pascal Seibicke
Lighting design – Marco Giusti

Solid:
Daland – Mats Almgren
Senta – Åsa Jäger
Erik – Kjetil Støa
Mary – Katarina Giotas
Steersman – Daniel Ralphsson
The Dutchman – Craig Colclough

Director Alessandro Talevi’s first manufacturing for the Gothenburg Opera is an effective instance of a directorial ‘idea’ working with reasonably than towards the libretto. The truth is, the storytelling is gripping, helped by the selection to carry out the entire opera with out a break (as Wagner initially supposed). Talevi sees Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer as a criticism of greed and status-obsession and units the story in a late-twentieth century with Barbie-fied, objectified men and women obsessive about cash and intercourse. Solely Senta, Erik and the Dutchman have completely different priorities from inconsiderate consumption.

David Hohmann’s set designs labored brilliantly, with a powerful three-storied home for Daland which was each filled with motion and labored effectively acoustically for the singers. In ‘Summ und brumm, du gutes Rädchen’ the home was full of girls spinning train bikes, prettifying themselves and getting ready for the return of the sailors beneath the management of a cynical Mary (brilliantly acted by Katarina Giotas). Pascal Seibicke’s costumes had been eye-poppingly vibrant and clearly Barbie-inspired (although the programme guide is at pains to level out that the idea was conceived lengthy earlier than the discharge of the Barbie movie). The women of the Gothenburg Opera refrain sang with verve and threw themselves into their components each on this scene and within the celebration scene.

The male refrain had been vocally beautiful in every of their scenes, and the Dutchman’s ghostly crew had been particularly chilling. The staging of the celebration scene was gripping because the goading of the sailors and women on the shore lastly led the cursed crew to interrupt their silence. The circle of metallic silhouettes of males used to signify the Dutchman’s ship is brilliantly mixed with video to nice impact each time it’s seen on stage. Daniel Ralphsson made a convincingly sleepy Steersman and sang ‘Mit Gewitter und Sturm aus fernem Meer’ with a pleasant sense of craving for residence.

Mats Almgren captures the completely different facets of Daland’s character, colouring his voice and his performing with Daland’s cupidity on discovering the wealth the Dutchman presents but in addition with fatherly delight in Senta (though Daland appears to worth Senta extra for the very good husband she attracts than as his loving daughter). Kjetil Støa makes his Wagner debut on this manufacturing, however one wouldn’t assume so from his assured and impassioned tenor. Støa’s Erik is affected by his rejection by Senta however retains his dignity, ending with a terrific ultimate duet with Senta.

INSERT PICTURE 2 HERE: Senta (Åsa Jäger, in inexperienced), Mary (Katarina Giotas, on train bike) and refrain. Picture: Tilo Stengel

Åsa Jäger’s magnificent Wagnerian soprano is ideal for Senta, with glorious projection via her register, a horny heat timbre and a really free high. She can be a delicate actor, plausible in Senta’s teenage swings between obsessive certainty and vulnerability. Her singing of Senta’s ballad was compelling, and she or he was no shrinking violet in her duets with the Dutchman. Jäger has already sung Brünnhilde in Germany and will have extra Wagner roles quickly after her terrific efficiency in Gothenburg.

Craig Colclough was very good because the Dutchman, with a stage presence that gripped even earlier than he began singing. ‘Die Frist ist um’ was a beautiful demonstration of Colclough’s expressive bass-baritone and a superbly managed dynamic vary with glorious projection all through. His performing thoughtfully confirmed each the Dutchman’s otherness and his residual humanity. If this artist is billed at your native opera home, purchase tickets instantly!

Alvetina Ioffe’s conducting mirrored the depth of Wagner’s music with out fail, and adeptly introduced out the contrasts in dynamics and environment with out the story ever seeming to tug. The Gothenburg Opera orchestra responded with a stunning sound and delicate stability with the singers. Musically, vocally and visually this can be a beautiful manufacturing and a showcase of simply how good Der fliegende Holländer could be.

Niklas Smith

Enjoying till 4 April 2024. Aivis Greters conducts on 29 February, 8 and 13 March and 4 April. For tickets and extra data see the Gothenburg Opera web site right here.