The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Hollaender): Romantic Opera in Three Acts

by Richard Wagner

"The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Hollaender): Romantic Opera in Three Acts" by Richard Wagner is a German-language opera composed in 1840-1841. A sea captain cursed to sail forever can only be saved through the love of a faithful woman. Inspired by Wagner's own stormy sea voyage and Heinrich Heine's retelling of the legend, this work explores redemption through love. Wagner introduces leitmotifs—recurring musical themes—for characters and ideas, marking an early step toward his later groundbreaking operatic style.