If Richard Wagner had not encountered a terrible storm on his way from Riga to London, the opera theatre would miss one of the masterpieces: as it was from this that the concept of The Flying Dutchman arose. The opera is based on the legend of a ghost ship that homelessly wanders over the seas. Every seven years, the captain of the ship, Holland, is allowed to go ashore, and if there he meets a girl who is willing to become his wife forever, he will be saved.
In the Ural Opera, The Flying Dutchman was staged for the first time, appearing in the repertoire to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Wagner, the composer, who in the second half of the 19th century had dramatically altered the development path of the European opera house. According to Paul Curran, the English stage director, it is "a story about love, freedom and duty. And that if you defy the wishes of the crowd, you need to be very strong". His performance is laconic, harsh and full of romantic pathetic – in perfect harmony with Wagner's music, the syllable of ancient legends and the stormy spirit of the northern seas.
Best Performance in Musical Theater
Best Conductor (Michael Güttler)
Best Supporting Actor in Musical Theater (Garry Aghajanian)