{"product_id":"storms-in-the-south-china-sea-christopher-morley-finds-much-to-admire-in-a-new-recording-of-wagner-s-early-masterpiece","title":"Storms in the South China Sea: Christopher Morley finds much to admire in a new recording of Wagner’s early masterpiece","description":"\u003cp\u003eReview of \u003cem\u003eDer fliegende Holländer\u003c\/em\u003e, conducted van Zweden, Hong Kong, 2024 (Naxos, 2 CDs).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thewagnerjournal.co.uk\/products\/the-wagner-journal-march-2026-volume-20-number-1?utm_source=copyToPasteBoard\u0026amp;utm_medium=product-links\u0026amp;utm_content=web\"\u003eMarch 2026, Volume 20, Number 1\u003c\/a\u003e, 88–9.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAbandoning the staples of comic opera and stifling Meyerbeerian spectacle, in \u003cem\u003eDer \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003efliegende Holländer\u003c\/em\u003e, the earliest work now holding a place in his operatic canon, Wagner set about exploring the intimacy of human longing and expectation, making the orchestra both a confiding partner and a voluble expression of personality. In this new, bargain-price recording, Jaap van Zweden makes his Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra virtually the star of the show. The Dutch conductor already has a fine \u003cem\u003eRing\u003c\/em\u003e cycle on the Naxos label from these forces under his belt, and he knows how to draw well-cushioned and bristling string playing, finely shaped woodwind solos and sturdy, noble brass from this ensemble. There is also an eloquent timpanist, rumbling with rolls, certainly, but also tapping out portentous mutterings.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Wagner Journal","offers":[{"title":"Individual","offer_id":52704333103446,"sku":null,"price":2.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Institution","offer_id":52704333136214,"sku":null,"price":4.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/thewagnerjournal.co.uk\/products\/storms-in-the-south-china-sea-christopher-morley-finds-much-to-admire-in-a-new-recording-of-wagner-s-early-masterpiece","provider":"The Wagner Journal","version":"1.0","type":"link"}