by InTrieste
After an 18-year absence, Richard Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer sailed back onto the stage of Teatro Verdi di Trieste on Friday night in a production that was as visually striking as it was musically compelling. Under the direction of Henning Brockhaus, the revival breathed new life into Wagner’s ghostly seafarer, capturing both the grandeur and psychological depth of the composer’s early masterpiece.
Brockhaus, a Strehler-trained German director known for his dreamlike visual language, framed the opera in an evocative, almost cinematic setting.
Enrico Calesso, making his debut with this title in Trieste, led the orchestra with an assured hand, drawing out the tempestuous swells of Wagner’s score while maintaining precision and clarity.
James Rutherford delivered a Dutchman of brooding intensity, his voice carrying both the weight of his eternal torment and flashes of yearning. Opposite him, Elena Batoukova imbued Senta with a luminous, unwavering presence, her powerful soprano soaring over the orchestra in her ballad.
The collaboration between Teatro Verdi and the Richard-Wagner-Verband Würzburg-Unterfranken added an extra layer of authenticity to the performance, with choristers from the Bayreuth Festival joining the house chorus. The result was a wall of sound that surged with raw, elemental power, particularly in the sailors’ and ghostly chorus scenes.
Trieste, with its rich Wagnerian tradition, proved to be a fitting home for the Holländer‘s return. Teatro Verdi’s superintendent, Giuliano Polo, had described this production as a reaffirmation of the city’s place in the global opera landscape. On opening night, that promise felt fulfilled.
Der Fliegende Holländer runs through March 30 at Teatro Verdi di Trieste. For tickets and more information, visit www.teatroverdi-trieste.com.
