Der Fliegende Hollander: Brilliant Bryn Terfel keeps this troubled ship afloat

Der Fliegende Hollander (Royal Opera House)

Verdict: Terfel triumphs over unromantic production

Rating:

The role of Wagner’s melancholy Dutchman, condemned to wander the world’s oceans until redeemed by an unselfish love, is one that Bryn Terfel was born to sing. 

It suits his voice, his vocal range and his giant stage presence.

His portrayal has deepened since this production was originally staged in 2009, and on opening night he was in magnificent voice, easily coping with having to sing a major aria at his first appearance.

Eerily impressive: Bryn Terfel was born to sing the role of Wagner’s melancholy Dutchman

Eerily impressive: Bryn Terfel was born to sing the role of Wagner’s melancholy Dutchman

This revival is worth catching for him alone. But Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka makes her own contribution, singing with a gleaming, well-focused tone and making Senta a flesh-and-blood character.

Another Canadian, Michael Koenig, does his best with Erik, one of the duller operatic tenors, and although British bass Peter Rose is not my idea of a Norwegian sea captain, he sings well. Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Ed Lyon lend sturdy support.

The music is early Wagner, so passages of genius alternate with tracts that could be by Lortzing. 

As the composer intended, the opera plays continuously, which is tough on the bladder and the fleshy parts but keeps up the tension.

It would be kept up even better if conductor Andris Nelsons got more of a move on - I thought Senta’s ballad would go on all evening.

Tim Albery’s production tries to be timeless but makes a nonsense of some scenes. The women sing about spinning but have modern sewing machines.

We never see the Dutchman’s ghostly ship but his sailors, supposedly eerie wraiths but more like a hearty gang of British Gas fitters, suddenly materialise mid-stage.

Albery’s ending is a cop-out. Instead of dying to save the Dutchman’s soul and being carried up with him to heaven, Senta collapses on the stage with a model sailing ship. Perhaps Albery is warning us of the dangers of pond yachts.

The opera will be broadcast live in cinemas next Tuesday at 7.15pm. For your nearest venue, visit roh.org.uk/cinema