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 Act
1: A Norwegian Harbor
A Norwegian merchant ship is driven off-course by a tempestuous storm.
Safe in port, the sailors lament their misfortune. Daland, their
captain, recognizes the familiar shore and knows they are but a few
miles from home. He instructs his Steersman to keep watch while he
and his storm-weary crew rest. The exhausted Steersman falls
asleep during his watch and is unaware that the red-sailed ship of the
Flying Dutchman has dropped anchor nearby. The mysterious Dutchman
emerges and grieves his curse. While rounding a treacherous cape,
he swore a blasphemous oath against God and is now cursed by Satan to
sail forever. The desperate Dutchman is unable to die and can dock
only once every seven years. To remove his curse, he must find a
love that is faithful unto death. Daland greets the Dutchman, who offers
the captain abundant treasure in exchange for a night's shelter.
Learning that Daland has a daughter, the Dutchman offers his entire
fortune in exchange for her hand in marriage. Delighted by the
Dutchman's offer, Daland invites the stranger to follow him to his home
port.
Act II: A Room in Daland's House
Inside Daland's home, his daughter Senta and the village girls, led
by Mary, are spinning thread to make gifts for their sweethearts at sea.
Senta daydreams and does not join the other girls in working. She
doesn't hear their teasing, but sits transfixed by the painting of the
Flying Dutchman. She sings a ballad to the girls, recounting the
legend of the Dutchman's curse. Enraptured by the story herself,
she vows to be the Dutchman's savior and love him faithfully unto death.
Erik, her huntsman suitor, enters the house and witnesses Senta in a
distressed trance. He rushes to her side and tells everyone that
the sailors are nearing port. The women depart to greet the men,
and Erik and Senta are left alone. Deeply concerned by her
behavior, he pleads with her to come to her senses and marry him as
promised. He then tells her about a disturbing dream in which he
foresees her death. The Dutchman enters followed by her father,
and Senta's dream materializes before her. Upon hearing her
father's plan to have them married, she agrees at once. Senta
ecstatically pledges her love to the Dutchman when Daland leaves them
alone.
Act III: The Bay Near Daland's
House
Celebrating the return from their voyage, the Norwegian sailors
carouse at the harbor. They invite the Dutchman's crew to join
their revelries, but their entreaties go unanswered. The women of
the village arrive to join the men in celebration; however, they are put
off by the conspicuous silence of the Dutchman's crew. The women
sense something is amiss and depart in fear, leaving the men to
celebrate alone. Finally, the Dutchman's crewmen give their
spookish reply, and the terrified Norwegians run away from the harbor.
Erik waits by the harbor for Senta to
arrive. He pleads with her to give up her infatuation with the
Dutchman and reminds Senta of her pledge to him. The Dutchman
interrupts them and mistakenly believes that Senta has broken her vow to
be true unto death; without Senta's fidelity her love cannot redeem him.
The Dutchman calls for his ship to be prepared despite Senta's pleading
and announces to all his identity. Determined to honor her pledge
of faithfulness, Senta throws herself into the sea. Freed from his
fateful bond, the Dutchman's ship sinks, and the lovers' souls are
united in death's release.
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