The two-hour opera performed without intermission is based on the legend of a cursed sailor who must find love
Ópera de Tenerife presents the second work of this year’s opera season: Richard Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman). The performances are to take place in the Symphony Hall on 16, 19 and 22 November at 7.30 p.m., each lasting two hours without intermission. The details were announced by the Councillor for Cultural Affairs of Tenerife Island Council, José Carlos Acha; José Luis Rivero, the Artistic Director of the Auditorio de Tenerife; the music director, Guillermo García Calvo; the stage director, Marcelo Lombardero; and the artists appearing in this production.
José Carlos Acha enthusiastically described the scheduling of ‘this romantic opera based on the legendary Dutchman and also on a gruesome journey undertaken by Wagner himself’. He added, ‘This is the composer’s fourth opera, and it features his first leitmotifs and what will become the characteristic elements of his works’, and pointed out that ‘this is the first staged opera of Wagner that the Auditorio de Tenerife has scheduled after the concert versions of Tannhäuser and Parsifal‘.
José Luis Rivero shared Acha’s enthusiasm, noting that Guillermo García Calvo, who had already conducted the Sinfónica de Tenerife during its season, ‘has joined the family of Ópera de Tenerife, and he happens to have the best understanding among Spanish conductors of the German repertoire and specifically of Wagner’. Rivero also spoke of ‘the significance of Marcelo Lombardero’s appearance in Tenerife, which makes this an even greater challenge’. He concluded by saying, ‘The cast are eminently Spanish, which we considered to be a key part of this production. In this sense, it should be noted that Ángeles Blancas is debuting in the role of Senta, a challenge she immediately accepted, becoming one of today’s iconic singers in Spain. She brings to this opera a guarantee of quality, reliability, knowledge and a dramatic spirit.
Orchestra conductor Guillermo García Calvo stated that he was ‘excited to take part in this passionate opera that features the extremes of the young Wagner’. Continuing, he said, ‘It’s a pleasure to work here and to be able to deepen my relationship with the Sinfónica de Tenerife, because, as sometimes happens in Wagner’s operas, there is more occurring in the orchestra pit than on stage, which makes every rehearsal a delight’. He concluded by saying, ‘As a Madrid native living in Vienna, it’s wonderful to be in Tenerife. I can’t complain!’
Marcelo Lombardero commented that ‘although this venue is iconic, what makes a theatre great is its staff, and what we have here in Auditorio de Tenerife is a hard-working team with great commitment and professionalism. Regarding the staging of a Wagner opera in modern times, the stage director said, ‘the work must be seen in a new light, and what we see is a young woman, Senta, who escapes the patriarchal oppression around her by creating a fantasy world, which is this Flying Dutchman’. He added, ‘Construction of artistic truth generates indelible bonds, and that’s what we’re doing in this production. I can only give thanks for the trust placed in me’.
Ángeles Blancas, the soprano who plays Senta, spoke of the pleasure she has experienced ‘from my return to Tenerife after Rusalka for this opportunity to debut in my first Wagner, because it’s unusual for a Spanish singer to be offered such a role’. She went on: ‘The public experiences and remembers the show, which is the culmination of a process that we have been working on for weeks, with rehearsals, learning and exchanging points of view, and these are the things that I will remember’. In conclusion, she said, ‘The sum of our energies is what makes the show great’.
Anton Keremidtchiev, the baritone playing the Dutchman, stated, ‘The Flying Dutchman is among Wagner’s most beautiful operas, and interpreting it in this very building and on this island is a pleasure’. The singer, who has already interpreted the role in other productions, expressed his appreciation of ‘the incredible warmth around me. Wherever I look, I see peace and tranquillity that allows anyone to give their best. He added, ‘Thank you all for your support; I’m thrilled to be here’.
Airam Hernández, the Tenerife-born tenor playing Erik, said, ‘It’s a pleasure to be here and to sing in my hometown. It’s something I’ve always tried to work into my schedule, and I’m very happy to be interpreting this role. He reminded those in attendance that ‘you’ll be seeing quite a bit of me this season, because I’ll sing here with the Sinfónica de Tenerife in several concerts, and I’ll return in March with Tenerife Opera to play the lead in Roméo et Juliette‘. He concluded by saying that ‘as professionals, we have the responsibility of learning a role, the duty of rehearsing it onstage and the pleasure of enjoying it during our performances’.
Premiered in Dresden in 1843, this opera is based on a legend that has also inspired works in other artistic disciplines. The story tells of a mysterious phantom vessel with blood-coloured sails, moved by unseen forces and captained by a pale man who disembarks and stands on the shoreline. This man is the Flying Dutchman, who is cursed for having invoked Satan and now must sail endlessly. The curse may be broken every seven years, when he is allowed to disembark and seek his redemption through love.
Through its tremendous onstage and dramatic concision, The Flying Dutchman also tells the story of Senta. The work is set in an atmosphere of cold and stormy seas and an asphyxiating context of sexist violence from which Senta seeks shelter through the mythical Dutch mariner. The chorus adds to the societal pressure bearing down on Senta in this complex and patriarchal society.
Marcelo Lombardero is assisted by a team comprising stage and multimedia designer Noelia González, lighting chief José Luis Fiorruccio, wardrobe head Luciana Gutman, and video designer Giselle Hauscarriaga. Lombardero’s vision uses multimedia, projections, and visual effects while also focusing on dramatic expression.
In addition to Keremidtchiev, Blancas and Hernández, the production’s international cast includes Armenian-German bass Vazgen Gazaryan, Argentine mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Barrientos and Mallorcan tenor Joan Laínez. Madrid native and music director of the show, Guillermo García Calvo, will conduct the Sinfónica de Tenerife, and Miguel Ángel Arqued will direct the Main Choir Ópera de Tenerife-Intermezzo. Several adult and child extras will also appear onstage.
After the show’s presentation as a production of the Santiago Municipal Theatre, the stage scenery failed to leave Chile due to logistical problems that the Auditorio de Tenerife had no part in. This created a setback without precedent in the Auditorio’s 22 years of operation, which was overcome by the teamwork of its crew, who quickly assembled the set design, following Marcelo Lombardero’s ideas. The stage director, the Auditorio’s art director, and the councillor for cultural affairs applauded this feat. The stage clothes arrived from Chile and will be used onstage.
The tickets are available on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com, at the auditorium’s box office or by dialling the phone number 902 317 327 from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check the special discounts for the audience under 30 years of age, students, unemployed people, and large families.
The Island Council has launched the shuttle service ‘Lanzadera Ópera’ for the second consecutive season, with two of TITSA’s public busses to provide spectators with free transport from Adeje and Buenavista to the Auditorio de Tenerife for every performance in the Ópera de Tenerife subscription series. The free tickets are available at www.operadetenerife.com
Ópera de Tenerife is an initiative organised by the Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife with the sponsorship of the ICDC (Regional Institute of Cultural Development) and the INAEM (National Institute of Performing Arts and Music).