Dutchman in the Desert: Simon Williams is thrilled but occasionally mystified by Santa Fe’s ‘Der fliegende Holländer’

One of the fascinating aspects of Der fliegende Holländer is the opportunity it provides us to trace Wagner’s journey away from the operatic modes, styles and genres current during his younger days towards music drama. Restrained performances allow us to savour the balance between the elegant music of Biedermeier domesticity and the Romantic outbursts of prodigious anger of the homeless Dutchman and the stormy desolation from which he comes. There was, however, no such balance in the remarkable performance staged by Santa Fe Opera.