Erik Söderblom
A RICH MAN COMES TO THE VILLAGE
What is The Flying Dutchman about?
It is the story of a Dutch mariner who once, in the face of death, made a pact with the Devil and for whom life subsequently became a curse. A go-ahead businessman suffers from burn out - money is no problem, but life seems to be meaningless. If only it could all come to an end, if death would claim him. He wishes for nothing more - until he encounters love.
It is the story of Senta, a young woman who confesses her fear that she is the source of all evil. Sexuality is condemned as being unfitting in a young lady. Yet she cannot help thinking about her sexual feelings. The world threatens to fall apart, and Senta believes it is her fault. She wants to save the world. The Flying Dutchman is the story of Senta's sacrifice in order to save the world. And she herself is the sacrifice.
It is the story of a merchant seafarer by the name of Daland, Senta's father, a model citizen. Returning from a long sea voyage, his home harbour already rising on the horizon, the ageing sailor who has weathered many a storm finds himself tossed on the wildest of all, the storm of life.
Out of the darkness a ship appears. The Dutch captain of the ship asks Daland for his daughter's hand and Daland gives his consent. The Dutchman is, after all, a man of considerable substance. And although he seems a little odd, he does have a cosmopolitan air about him. Daland agrees even though it means breaking off the betrothal he has already negotiated on his daughter's behalf with a local suitor called Erik. He agrees because Senta means more to him than anything else in the world now that his wife is dead. And such a marriage would be a crowning blessing for him, too, allowing him to retire in peace and never set sail again. And why would he not consent? Surely we all would under the circumstances?
The opera is about the Dutchman, Senta, Daland and Erik, but it also says possibly more about the inhabitants of a little town on the coast of Norway, about ordinary people, about all of us when life takes a sudden change. A wealthy man appears in the village. He has enough riches for all. Suddenly, out of the blue, there is money. The villagers go mad. They celebrate and spend as if their lives depend on it. Why? Maybe to blind themselves; maybe to hide the truth from themselves. Maybe they realise deep in their hearts that their wealth is a fantasy and their castle built in the air. Maybe they know that all must come to an end. Evil does not strike from the direction we expect. It sneaks in behind our backs. It hides its face. Maybe it comes not as night is falling but as dawn is breaking.
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