Bregenz, 7 July 2025. The Bregenz Festival will mount a production of The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer) as the opera on the lake stage in the summer of 2028 and 2029. Richard Wagner's famous opera, one of the central works of Romantic music drama, is a moving reflection on themes of damnation, redemption and the power of love. Previously staged in 1973 and 1989/90, this is the third time that the opera, which premiered in Dresden in 1843, has turned Lake Constance into the sea. The production will be staged by the American director Lydia Steier, with British designer Es Devlin responsible for the stage design for a second time, following Carmen in 2017/18. The premiere is on 19 July 2028.
Soulful Romantic drama of damnation and redemption
Richard Wagner's The Flying Dutchman tells the legendary tale of a cursed sailor who is doomed to sail for eternity on the world's oceans. He is only allowed to go ashore once every seven years – in the hope of finding redemption through true love. The Flying Dutchman was first performed on the Bregenz lake stage in 1973. In 1989/90, director David Pountney, later the festival's artistic director, brought the work back to the lake stage in a widely acclaimed production on a spectacular stage designed by Stefanos Lazaridis.
In 2028/29, The Flying Dutchman promises an impressive interplay of unique natural surroundings and gripping musical drama. The opera combines Romantic darkness with the central motif of redemption through love – evoked by Wagner's deeply moving and stirring music, with the sea operating as a powerful symbol of inner and outer states.
First female team for direction and set design on the lake stage
The Flying Dutchman will be directed by Lydia Steier, who is making her directorial debut at the Bregenz Festival. Born in the USA, she has been active in the European opera business for many years and is regarded as one of the most distinguished female directors of her generation. The stage design is by Es Devlin, who is returning to Bregenz after her acclaimed production of Carmen in 2017/2018. The British artist is one of the most sought-after stage designers internationally and is known for spectacular, large-scale, sculptural installations.
Information
The 2025 Bregenz Festival runs from 16 July to 17 August. For tickets and information, please visit www.bregenzerfestspiele.com or call tel. 0043 5574 4076.
