Reviews

Por Gonzalo Tello / febrero 24, 2026

The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer) is Wagner's third opera to be staged in the country, featuring Argentine and Colombian soloists, the National Choir of Colombia, and the excellent Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Swiss maestro Stefan Lano, who frequently collaborates with Marcelo Lombardero, especially at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico, where the latter has been artistic director since 2024.

The choral climax came in the opening scene of the third act, in the famous chorus of Norwegian sailors, where the challenge was to maintain the musical forcefulness amid constant stage movement and a particularly risky and frenetic tempo on the part of Stefan Lano, faster than usual. The choristers rose to this challenge with aplomb, demonstrating discipline and adaptability in a highly demanding context.

The Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra did full justice to Wagner's demanding score, with a compact sound, well-achieved balances, and a particularly noble yet energetic brass section, as well as a versatility comparable to that of many high-level European orchestras. The ensemble also benefits from an intense annual season that could feature in any major European concert hall, with repertoires ranging from Baroque and Classical to the great pillars of Romantic and Post-Romantic symphonic music, without neglecting Colombian music and contemporary compositions.

For his part, Stefan Lano demonstrated not only an affinity for Wagnerian language, but also solid and experienced conducting. He was able to precisely articulate the joint work of the choir, soloists, and orchestra, managing firm tempos, forceful volumes, and delicate nuances, achieving a balanced and theatrically effective reading.

The result of this production by the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo can be considered a complete success: three sold-out performances and an enthusiastic audience that is ready—and even eager—for more romantic Wagner. The response in the theater confirms that, when the artistic conditions are right, this repertoire also resonates in our part of the world.