The Flying Dutchman by Wagner, Minn (2023/2023), Surmast Direttur François-Xavier Roth, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France

Condemned to eternal wandering for having dared to defy the gods, a sailor can only hope for his salvation thanks to the love and fidelity of a woman. Such is the plot of Wagner's first masterpiece, then just thirty years old. Composing both libretto and score, the musician lays with this Vaisseau the first stone of his "musical drama" to come. Here are brought together an implacable sense of monologue, duets and choirs overflowing with lyricism, and, already, an orchestra which, far from limiting itself to accompanying the voices, becomes an actor in the drama in its own right. All the interest of this Phantom shipalso resides in François-Xavier Roth's proposal to have Wagner heard on instruments from the composer's era. "Historical credo" of the conductor and his musicians, it will undoubtedly be a whole new and exciting approach to the music of the master of Bayreuth.