Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer

Karajan’s 1981-83 Flying Dutchman remains a sonic peak, born from his Salzburg Easter Festival staging. Recorded over two years to ensure vocal perfection, it captures the definitive synergy between the conductor and José van Dam. Moving away from declamatory power toward a haunted, lieder-like interiority, Van Dam’s performance is a masterclass in noble restraint. While the opera world honours his immense legacy as he continues to mentor the next generation, this recording stands as his most profound testament: a ghost story told with heart-wrenching elegance.