West Bay Opera closes its 2008-09 season with a new, fully staged production of Richard Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman). Der fliegende Holländer is the last of Wagner’s Italianate operas and his first major success. For centuries, the Flying Dutchman sailed the seas, condemned to live until he could find salvation in the love of a truly faithful woman. Senta, a young girl in a Norwegian fishing village, proved herself faithful to the death. This event is a free preview. The full production opens May 23rd

West Bay Opera’s full-length Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) will open May 23 and run through June 1 at the Lucie Stern Theatre. Der fliegende Holländer will be performed in German with English titles, conducted by the Company’s General Director, José Luis Moscovich, and directed by David F. Otswald.

ABOUT THE COMPANY: Founded in the 1955 by Henry and Maria Holt, West Bay Opera has the distinction of being the second oldest opera company in continuous operation in the West. Currently under the leadership of General Director José Luis Moscovich, the company has an distinguished record of presenting fully staged opera productions for the enjoyment of Bay Area audiences and its productions have garnered critical acclaim in national opera and classical music publications. Opera News proclaimed West Bay Opera “California’s most consistently satisfying small opera company”. West Bay Opera presents three productions per season, in October, February, and May. The repertoire includes standard works, lesser-known operas and operettas, and operas by modern composers. Projected supertitles in English are a standard part of the West Bay Opera experience. And all of the scores are played live by the first-rate West Bay Opera Orchestra.