Said to be inspired by a stormy sea crossing taken from Riga to London by famed German composer Richard Wagner, the opera The Flying Dutchman tells the story of a cursed sea captain and his quest for salvation. Premiering at the Semper Oper in Dresden in 1843, the piece marks a stylistic evolution for Wagner as he employs various leading motifs, rich harmonies and complex sonic textures. Though not as popular or critically revered as his four piece epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, The Flying Dutchman is nevertheless a masterfully arranged opera that represents Wagner's adept maturity and impressive knack for composition.
