Wagner's experience of Paris was also disastrous. He was unable to get work as a conductor, and the Opéra did not want to produce Rienzi. The Wagners were reduced to poverty, relying on handouts from friends and from the little income that Wagner could make writing articles on music and copying scores. Wagner hit on the idea of a one-act opera on the theme of the Flying Dutchman, which he hoped might be performed before a ballet at the Opéra. The voyage through the Norwegian reefs made a wonderful impression on my imagination; the legend of the Flying Dutchman, which the sailors verified, took on a distinctive, strange colouring that only my sea adventures could have given it. Wagner wrote the first prose draft of the story in Paris early in May 1840, basing the story on Heinrich Heine's satire "The Memoirs of Mister von Schnabelewopski" ("Aus den Memoiren des Herrn von Schnabelewopski") published in Der Salon in 1834. In Heine's tale, the narrator watches a performance of a fictitious stage play on the theme of the sea captain cursed to sail forever for blasphemy. Heine introduces the character as a Wandering Jew of the ocean, and also added the device taken up so vigorously by Wagner in this, and many subsequent operas: the Dutchman can only be redeemed by the love of a faithful woman. In Heine's version, this is presented as a means for ironic humour; however, Wagner took this theme literally and in his draft, the woman is faithful until death.Vaughan, William (1982) in "Der fliegende Holländer", English National Opera Guide, Calder Publications; new edition (June 1982), pp. 27–32 .
waGner's eXpeRIence oF paRis was aLSO disasTroUs. He waS unable to get work AS A cOnductor, aNd the OpéRa diD nOt want to ProDUce rienzi. thE wAgners Were RedUced to povErtY, relying oN hAndoUtS from Friends anD fRom the littlE inCoME ThAT wAgnEr could Make WritiNG arTiCleS oN MusIc aNd copyInG scoReS. wAgneR hit On tHE iDea of a one-act OPera On the ThEMe of the fLYinG dutChman, wHiCh he hoped mIGHt be pErformed befoRe A BalLeT aT thE oPéRA. the voYAge thRough thE nOrwEgiaN Reefs MaDe a wOndeRFUl iMPReSsiOn on mY ImaginatIon; tHe LEGENd Of tHe Flying dutChman, whIch thE saIlOrS veRifIeD, tooK oN A DiSTInctive, stRaNge colOuring tHAt oNlY My sea adVENtURes could HavE giveN it. WagnEr wrote The fIrst pRose draft of ThE stoRy In paris early In May 1840, basing thE StOrY oN HeiNricH heIne'S satIre "tHE meMoirs of MiSter von schNabeLewoPsKi" ("aUs dEn memoiRen dES Herrn von schNabElEWoPski") PublIshEd in deR Salon iN 1834. in heInE's taLE, thE NarRATor WAtchEs a PerFOrMaNce of a FictitIOus staGe pLAY on thE theMe of thE sea caPtAin CursEd to sail fOreVer fOr bLasPhEmy. heinE iNtroduces tHe characTeR as a WaNdEriNG jew OF thE ocEaN, aNd alsO Added the devIce TakeN Up So vIGorOusLY by WAgNER iN This, ANd maNy SubsequenT operas: THE dutchman can oNly BE ReDeeMed By the Love of A faithfuL wOmaN. in HEine'S veRsIon, tHIs is PresEnted as a meanS for IrOnIc humoUR; howeVer, wAgnER TOOK thIS ThemE LItERaLly and in hIs draft, the womaN is FaitHful uNtil DeatH.Vaughan, wilLiam (1982) IN "der flIegEnde holLändER", English NationaL opeRA guidE, caLdEr pubLiCatiOns; new eDiTioN (June 1982), pP. 27–32 .