How long is the flying Dutchman opera?

Answer 1

Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) is an Opera, with music andlibretto by Richard Wagner.

Wagner claimed in his 1870autobiography Mein Leben that he had been inspired to write "The Flying Dutchman" following a stormy sea crossing he made from Riga to London in July and August 1839. In his 1843Autobiographical Sketch Wagner acknowledged he had taken the story from Heinrich Heine's retelling of thelegend in his 1833 satirical novel The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski(Aus den Memoiren des Herrn von Schnabelewopski).[1] The central theme isredemption through love.

Wagner conducted the premiere at theSemper Oper in Dresden, 1843. This work shows early attempts at operatic styles that would characterise his latermusic dramas. In Der fliegende HolländerWagner uses a number of leitmotifs(literally, "leading motifs") associated with the characters and themes. The leitmotifs are all introduced in theoverture, which begins with a well-known ocean or storm motif before moving into the Dutchman and Senta motifs.

Wagner originally wrote Der fliegende Holländer to be performed withoutintermission - an example of his efforts to break with tradition - and, while today's opera houses sometimes still follow this directive, it is also performed in a three act version.