Ópera de Tenerife Presents Wagner's *The Flying Dutchman* Amidst Set Challenges

Ópera de Tenerife is presenting its second subscription opera of the season: Richard Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. Performances will be held in the Symphony Hall on November 16, 19, and 22, all starting at 7:30 PM. The opera will run for two hours with no intermission.

These details were shared yesterday, Monday, by José Carlos Acha, the Minister of Culture for the Cabildo; José Luis Rivero, the artistic director of Auditorio de Tenerife; Guillermo García Calvo, the musical director; Marcelo Lombardero, the stage director; and the singers involved in the production.

This production of the opera was originally planned as a presentation by the Municipal Theater of Santiago. However, the set for The Flying Dutchman could not be transported from Chile due to logistical issues completely separate from the Auditorio de Tenerife, as the Cabildo explained last week. This created an unprecedented situation in the 22-year history of the institution. The issue has been resolved thanks to the efforts of the Auditorio de Tenerife's technical team, who created a new set based on Marcelo Lombardero's staging concept. This was emphasized by the stage director, the Auditorium's artistic director, and the island's Minister of Culture. The costumes used will be the same as those seen in the Chilean production.

José Carlos Acha expressed his excitement about featuring "this romantic opera, inspired by the legend of the Dutchman and also by a difficult journey Wagner himself experienced. This is the composer's fourth opera, and you can already begin to notice his signature musical themes and the characteristics of his works," the minister noted. He added that "this is the first fully staged opera by the German composer that the Auditorio de Tenerife has programmed, following concert performances of Tannhäuser and Parsifal."

José Luis Rivero shared his pleasure that Guillermo García Calvo, who has previously conducted the Tenerife Symphony, "has now joined the Ópera de Tenerife family. He is the Spanish conductor who best understands German repertoire, especially Wagner." Rivero also highlighted "the significance of Marcelo Lombardero's time on the island, which presents a major undertaking."

"The cast has a strong national presence, which was a key factor. In this regard, I want to commend Ángeles Blancas, who is making her debut in the role of Senta. It's a challenge she readily accepted, and as one of Spain's leading vocalists, she brings assurance, expertise, and dramatic flair," he stated.

The opera, which first premiered in Dresden in 1843, is based on a legend that has inspired various artistic works. It tells the story of a phantom ship with blood-red sails, driven by supernatural forces and commanded by a pale figure who comes ashore. This is the Flying Dutchman, cursed for invoking Satan and condemned to sail the seas forever. His sentence is lifted every seven years, allowing him to land and seek a love that can save him.

This production, noted for its powerful drama and concise staging, also explores the story of Senta. She navigates a bleak environment of rough seas and a suffocating, violent, and misogynistic society, from which she seeks escape through the mythical figure of the Dutchman. The chorus plays a role in reflecting and amplifying the social pressures Senta faces within this complex, patriarchal world.