Der fliegende Holländer

Christoph von Dohnányi
Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor
Wiener Philharmoniker
Date/Location
March/November 1991
Großer Saal Konzerthaus Wien
Recording Type
  live   studio
  live compilation   live and studio
Cast
Daland Kurt Rydl
Senta Hildegard Behrens
Erik Josef Protschka
Mary Iris Vermillion
Der Steuermann Dalands Uwe Heilmann
Der Holländer Robert Hale
Gallery
Reviews
classical-music.com

Yet another Flying Dutchman heaves into view, this time from Christoph von Dohnányi, who made a favourable impression when he conducted it at Covent Garden in 1992, and who is currently committing a Ring cycle to disc. He brings a demonic intensity to the overture and the Dutchman’s Monologue – the ‘crack of doom’ resounds hair-raisingly in the latter – and idiosyncrasies of tempo (such as the distant effect created for the ‘mist of times long ago’ in the Act II duet) are always well motivated. Unusually for a recording, Dohnányi adopts the version in three separate acts: an unsatisfactory decision unless one interpolates one’s own interval, since the material repeated in this version is twice heard back-to-back. Robert Hale’s Dutchman is by turns powerful and introspective, almost tender, but, like most of his rivals in the role, he lacks the character’s diabolic aura and sense of desperation. Hildegard Behrens as Senta may be vocally less secure – even squally at times – but she is right inside the part. For the trembling fervour of her dedication to death, and the burning conviction with which every phrase is invested, one can readily forgive technical shortcomings. Josef Protschka shapes Erik’s ‘Mein Herz’ with a delicacy worthy of a lieder singer, and Kurt Rydl’s Daland is strongly sung. Overall, the performance deserves no fewer stars than the budget version on Naxos (reviewed in December), but none of the well-conducted accounts to have appeared in recent years has yet thrown up an ideally tormented Dutchman. Will forthcoming recordings from DG (Sinopoli) or Sony (Levine) be able to plug the gap?

Barry Millington | 20 January 2012

Corliss Phillabaum

The rich sound of the great Vienna Philharmonic is beautifully caught in this studio recording with the voices in good balance. Christoph von Dohnányi’s reading tends to broad tempos but he sustains the dramatic flow well in support of the involved interpretations of the soloists. Both Robert Hale (Dutchman) and Hildegard Behrens (Senta) bring considerable intensity to their roles and rise strongly to the musical challenges. They also make Wagner’s words count, although Behrens’ diction can be a bit cloudy at times. Josef Protschka is a solid Erik and Kurt Rydl sings well as Daland, though his personality is a bit bland. This is a performance of considerable distinction and worth hearing.

Rating
(6/10)
User Rating
(3.3/5)
Media Type/Label
Decca
Technical Specifications
605 kbit/s VBR, 44.1 kHz, 638 MByte (flac)
Remarks