The film was shot during rehearsals for The Flying Dutchman prior to the première at the 2015 Budapest Wagner Days. In the film, the festival’s conductor and artistic director Ádám Fischer and director Balázs Kovalik explain their interpretations of Wagner's opera, which tells the story of a sailor condemned to wander eternally, seeking salvation from a faithful woman, and the romantic story of Senta, a girl who longs for a civilised life and dreams of a mysterious hero. Fischer recounts the story of the stormy sea crossing that inspired Wagner to compose the opera, and also recounts the legend of the Dutchman. He provides analysis of the opera's musical qualities, and of the characters' personalities and their relationships. In Balázs Kovalik's interpretation, the Dutchman represents the Artist, living in the realm of his own successes and therefore incapable of human and social relationships. The director draws parallels between the basic motifs of Wagner's work and problems of our modern age, which not only reflect the personal characteristics of the composer, but also touch on basic human issues that are still relevant today.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest