If you’re new to opera, the first thing you think of when you hear “The Flying Dutchman” is probably not the opera by German powerhouse composer Richard Wagner.
It’s probably this:
In The Pirates of the Caribbean, Davy Jones serves as the captain of the ghost ship ‘The Flying Dutchman.’
The blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean has many similarities to The Flying Dutchman. A ghost ship, a cursed captain, and of course thrilling music, are all part of Wagner’s opera. Even the set, imported from the Glimmerglass Festival in New York, is a ship! Of course, there is one major theme of The Flying Dutchman that isn’t found in, but instead in another popular film (especially for teenagers):
Twilight was released in 2008 and pulled at the heartstrings of millions of teenagers.
Francesca Zambello, the production’s original director, saw an interesting connection between both tales. Yes, it’s romance! Senta, the main object of attraction in The Flying Dutchman, faces the same inner struggle as Bella Swan in Twilight. Will she choose Erik, the stable huntsman who is clearly in love with her? Or the Dutchman, a mysterious, swash-buckling man with a dangerous attitude? In other words… #TeamErik or #TeamDutchman? Speaking of teams, if you’re a soccer fan you probably watched the World Cup 2014 this past summer. Who remembers this iconic moment from the Netherlands v. Spain?
In this instance, the term ‘The Flying Dutchman’ is literal. Robert van Persie literally turned into the Flying Dutchman to score a goal for the Netherlands against Spain. What’s better about HOT’s production? Not only does our Dutchman fly for more than just a few seconds, but we also have multiple dancers flying on ropes! Well, that, and a hunky Bass-Baritone…
Who can resist Ryan McKinny?!
To conclude, HOT’s production of The Flying Dutchman has elements from all three of these popular cultural references (??) and more! Join us as we drop anchor at the Blaisdell Center on Feb 13, 15, and 17! Buy tickets online at Ticketmaster or call our box office at (808) 596-7858. The Netherlands forward garnered the title ‘The Flying Dutchman’ after his acrobatic header.The