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'' Der Vampyr '' (''The Vampire'') is a Romantic
opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
in two acts by
Heinrich Marschner Heinrich August Marschner (16 August 1795 – 14 December 1861) was the most important composer of German opera between Weber and Wagner.
. The German libretto by Wilhelm August Wohlbrück (Marschner's brother-in-law) is based on the play ''Der Vampir oder die Totenbraut'' (1821) by Heinrich Ludwig Ritter, which itself was based on the short story ''
The Vampyre "The Vampyre" is a short work of prose fiction written in 1819 by John William Polidori taken from the story Lord Byron told as part of a contest among Polidori, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, and Percy Shelley. The same contest produced the novel '' ...
'' (1819) by
John Polidori John William Polidori (7 September 1795 – 24 August 1821) was a British writer and physician. He is known for his associations with the Romantic movement and credited by some as the creator of the vampire genre of fantasy fiction. His most succ ...
. The first performance took place on 29 March 1828 in
Leipzig Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...
, where it was a hit.Loomis, George, "Another kind of vampire romance", ''New York Times'' (November 18, 2008)
/ref> The opera is still occasionally performed, and, in 1992, an updated adaptation, entitled '' The Vampyr: A Soap Opera'', with new lyrics by Charles Hart, starring
Omar Ebrahim Omar Ebrahim (born 6 September 1956 in Greasbrough, Rotherham, South Yorkshire) is an English baritone vocalist and actor. He specializes in the performance of contemporary classical music. He studied voice at the Guildhall School of Music an ...
and produced by Janet Street-Porter, was serialised on
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
television. In June 2014, OperaHub in Boston premiered a new English-language adaptation of ''Der Vampyr'' by John J King that spoofs more modern vampire stories such as ''Twilight'', ''Dracula'', the ''Vampire Chronicles'', and ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''.


Roles


Synopsis

:Place:
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
:Time: the eighteenth century.


Act 1

''Scene 1: After midnight'' At a
Witches' Sabbath A Witches' Sabbath is a purported gathering of those believed to practice witchcraft and other rituals. The phrase became popular in the 20th century. Origins In 1668, Johannes Praetorius published his literary work "Blockes-Berges Verrichtu ...
, the Vampire Master tells Lord Ruthven that if he cannot sacrifice three virgin brides within the next 24 hours, he will die. If he can, he will be granted another year of life. The clock strikes one, and Ruthven's first victim, Janthe, arrives for a clandestine meeting, although she is due to marry another on the following day. Berkley, having discovered that she is missing, is searching for her with his men, and Ruthven hides with her in a cave. Her screams alert the search-party, and the body and the Vampire are discovered. Berkley stabs Ruthven and leaves him to die, but he is discovered by Aubry, whose life had been saved by Ruthven in the past. Ruthven pleads with Aubry to drag him into the moonlight so that he can revive, and Aubry, while doing so, realises that Ruthven is a vampire. He has to swear not to reveal this secret for twenty-four hours, or he will become a vampire, too. ''Scene 2: Next morning'' The 18-year-old Malwina and Aubry, with whom she is in love, are told by Davenaut that she must marry the Earl of Marsden. Aubry recognises the Earl as Lord Ruthven, but is told that he is Ruthven's brother, who has been abroad for some time. Aubry, however, recognises a wound that proves that the Earl really is Ruthven, and is about to denounce him when Ruthven reminds him of his oath and the consequences that will follow if he breaks it. The preparations for Malwina's marriage to "Marsden" begin.


Act 2

''Scene 1: Near Marsden castle'' Emmy awaits her husband-to-be, George. News of Janthe's gruesome death emerges, and Emmy recounts the legend of the Vampire. Ruthven appears and impresses the villagers with his largesse. He flirts with Emmy until, interrupted by George, he departs - though by then he has extracted a promise from Emmy that she will dance with him later. ''Scene 2'' Aubry tries to persuade Ruthven to give up his claim to Malwina, but is again reminded of the fate that awaits if he breaks his oath. Ruthven, in a soliloquy, rails against the torments that a Vampire must face. ''Scene 3'' Aubry is torn by his choice between breaking his oath and saving Malwina, or keeping quiet and losing her to the Vampire. George asks Aubry to use his influence to stop "Marsden" from seducing Emmy. Aubry warns George that he must keep watch over Emmy - but already she is being led into the forest by Ruthven. ''Scene 4: Outside the inn'' Blunt, Gadshill, Scrop and Green sing of the pleasures of drink. Blunt's wife Suse upbraids the men, to the delight of the onlookers, but a dishevelled George arrives, recounting how he followed Emmy and "Marsden", only to find him standing over her dead body. He had shot the Earl immediately, leaving him to die in the moonlight. The villagers express their sympathy and sorrow. ''Scene 5: In Davenaut's castle'' Malwina is to be married to "Marsden" before midnight. Aubry warns her that she is in danger, and she puts her trust in God. The wedding-guests arrive, followed by Ruthven, who apologises for his lateness. Malwina and Aubry make one last appeal to Davenaut, who throws Aubry out and orders the wedding to proceed. A thunderstorm approaches, and Aubry returns, having decided to reveal Ruthven's secret at no matter what cost to himself. Suddenly, the clock strikes one, and Aubry, released from his oath, reveals that "Marsden" is Lord Ruthven, the Vampire. Ruthven, having failed in his task, is struck by lightning and descends into Hell. Now Davenaut asks Malwina to forgive him and consents to her marriage to Aubry, to general rejoicing.


Instrumentation

Marschner scored the opera for two piccolos and two flutes (not doubling), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons,
serpent Serpent or The Serpent may refer to: * Snake, a carnivorous reptile of the suborder Serpentes Mythology and religion * Sea serpent, a monstrous ocean creature * Serpent (symbolism), the snake in religious rites and mythological contexts * Serp ...
, four horns, two clarion natural trumpets, three trombones, timpani, tamtam, and strings, together with two offstage horns and two offstage trumpets.


Music

Apart from some references to
Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...
, and, in the Ruthven/Emmy/George scene, a similarity with
Don Giovanni ''Don Giovanni'' (; K. 527; Vienna (1788) title: , literally ''The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its subject is a centuries-old Spanis ...
/Zerlina/Masetto, Marschner's opera is a notable link between two other operas with supernatural elements,
Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (18 or 19 November 17865 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his opera ...
's ''
Der Freischütz ' ( J. 277, Op. 77 ''The Marksman'' or ''The Freeshooter'') is a German opera with spoken dialogue in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind, based on a story by Johann August Apel and Friedrich Laun from their 181 ...
'' (1821) and
Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...
's ''
The Flying Dutchman The ''Flying Dutchman'' ( nl, De Vliegende Hollander) is a legendary ghost ship, allegedly never able to make port, but doomed to sail the seven seas forever. The myth is likely to have originated from the 17th-century Golden Age of the Dut ...
'' (1843). Much of the music is reminiscent of Weber: one example is the Aubry/Malwina duet whose tune also appears in the overture, and there is a marked similarity between the Witches' Sabbath and the Wolf's Glen (''Freischütz''). Marschner, however, made no attempt to introduce any local colour into his score. On the other hand, Emmy's Legend of the Vampire prefigures Senta's aria about the story of the Flying Dutchman, and the identical description, "der bleiche Mann" (the pallid man), appears in both. Wagner, in fact, conducted ''Der Vampyr'' when at
Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River. Würzburg is ...
in 1833. When his brother, who sang the part of Aubry, complained that the aria "Wie ein schöner Frühlingsmorgen" was not effective enough, Wagner replaced Marschner's original ''agitato'' ending with a new ''allegro'' of his own. Despite being well received at the time, Wagner's ''allegro'' is rarely performed.Newman, pp. 101-102. The opera is normally performed in the 1924 edition by
Hans Pfitzner Hans Erich Pfitzner (5 May 1869 – 22 May 1949) was a German composer, conductor and polemicist who was a self-described anti-modernist. His best known work is the post-Romantic opera ''Palestrina'' (1917), loosely based on the life of the s ...
.


Recordings

* Gisela Rathauscher, Traute Skladal, Liane Synek, Maria Nussbaumer,
Kurt Equiluz Kurt Equiluz (13 June 1929 – 20 June 2022) was an Austrian classical tenor in opera and concert. He was a member of the Vienna State Opera as a tenor buffo from 1957 until 1983, remembered for roles such as Pedrillo in Mozart's ''Die Entfüh ...
, Erich Kuchar, Fritz Sperlbauer, Großes Wiener Rundfunkorchester (Viennese Radio Orchestra), conductor Kurt Tenner. Recording from Vienna, 1951. Line Music/Cantus Classics CACD 5.00269 F (supposedly not the revised version by Pfitzner) * Ursula Boecke, Albert Kunz, Bruno Manazza, Charles Gillig, Chloe Owen, Erich Arberle,
Ernst Gutstein Ernst Gutstein (15 May 1924 – 24 February 1998) was an Austrian operatic baritone. He made an international career and also performed regularly at the Vienna State Opera. His repertoire included both tragic and comic characters, one of his sign ...
, Gottfried Fehr, Hans Eberg, Nelde Clavel, Bern Radio Orchestra, conductor Hans Haug. Recording from 1963 edited in 1971 on a 4-LP box set together with Hans Heiling, no label, ref. MRF-70-S. *
Roland Hermann Roland Hermann (born 17 September 1936; died 17 November 2020) was a German operatic baritone and former professor at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. A member of the Opernhaus Zürich, he performed leading roles internationally, not only i ...
,
Arleen Auger Joyce Arleen Auger (sometimes spelled Augér ; September 13, 1939 – June 10, 1993) was an American soprano, known for her coloratura voice and interpretations of works by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Monteverdi, Mozart, and Schubert. She won a posthum ...
, Anna Tomowa-Sintow,
Donald Grobe Donald Roth Grobe (16 December 1929 – 1 April 1986) was an American tenor, lyric tenor who sang at the ''Deutsche Oper Berlin'' during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He made his début in Chicago, in 1952, as Borsa in ''Rigoletto''. He sang at his ...
,
Kurt Böhme Kurt Böhme (5 May 1908 – 20 December 1989) was a German bass. He was born in Dresden, Germany, where he studied with Adolf Kluge at the Dresden Conservatory. He made his debut in 1930 in Bautzen in Der Freischütz, singing both Kaspar (a sign ...
, Jane Marsch, Nikolaus Hillebrand, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Fritz Rieger. Live recording from Munich, 1974. OPD-Opera d'Oro 1186 *
Siegmund Nimsgern Siegmund Nimsgern (born 14 January 1940) is a German bass-baritone, born in Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Germany. After leaving school in 1960 he studied singing and musical education at the Hochschule für Musik Saar with Sibylle Fuchs, Jakob Stà ...
(Ruthven), Carole Farley (Malvina Davenaut), Anastasia Tomaszewska-Schepis,
Josef Protschka Josef Protschka (born 5 February 1944) is a German operatic tenor who also sang lieder and oratorio and made many recordings. A long-term member of the Cologne Opera, he appeared at international opera houses and festivals, with a focus on Mozart ...
(Aubry), Armando Caforio, Galina Pisarenko, Martin Engel, Chorus and Orchestra Sinfonica of Radio Italiana, conductor Günter Neuhold. Live recording from Rome, 1980. HOMMAGE 7001834-HOM (revised version by Pfitzner) * Franz Hawlata (Ruthwen),
Jonas Kaufmann Jonas Kaufmann (born 10 July 1969) is a German operatic tenor. He is best known for the versatility of his repertoire, performing a variety of opera roles in multiple languages in recitalTommasini, Anthony (21 February 2014)"A Tenor Finds Energy ...
(Aubry), Regina Klepper, Thomas Dewald, Yoo-Chang Nah, Anke Hoffmann, Hein Heidbüchel, Kay Immer, Franz Gerihsen, Josef Otten, Marietta Schwittay-Niedzwicki, Dirk Schortemeier,
WDR Rundfunkchor Köln The WDR Rundfunkchor Köln (West German Radio Choir Cologne) is the choir of the German broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), based in Cologne. It was founded in 1947. The choir premiered works by contemporary composers including Arnold Schoenb ...
and
WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln The is a German broadcast orchestra of the ' (WDR, West German Broadcasting) in Cologne. The orchestra gives its concerts in such venues as the Kölner Philharmonie and in the Funkhaus Wallrafplatz. History Groups from which the orchestra was f ...
, conductor
Helmuth Froschauer Helmuth Emil Froschauer (22 September 1933 – 18 August 2019) was an Austrian conductor, especially a choral conductor who received his first training as a member of the Wiener Sängerknaben. He conducted the choir from 1953 to 1965, including 22 ...
. Recording from Cologne, 1999. Capriccio C5184, UPC 845221051840


Operas with similar themes

*Other early 19th-century vampire operas were Silvestro de Palma's ''I vampiri'' (1812), Martin-Joseph Mengal's ''Le vampire'' (1826) and Lindpaintner's ''
Der Vampyr '' Der Vampyr '' (''The Vampire'') is a Romantic opera in two acts by Heinrich Marschner. The German libretto by Wilhelm August Wohlbrück (Marschner's brother-in-law) is based on the play ''Der Vampir oder die Totenbraut'' (1821) by Heinrich Lud ...
'' (1828).


References

Notes Sources * *Hartford, Robert, "Marschner: ''Der Vampyr''", Wexford Festival Opera programme book, 1992 * *Marschner, Heinrich, ''Der Vampyr: Große romantische Oper in zwei Akten''. Full score critical edition in two volumes, ed.
Egon Voss Egon Voss (born 7 November 1938) is a German musicologist, who is particularly known for his contributions to Richard Wagner research. Life and career Born in Magdeburg, Voss studied musicology and German studies at the Universities in Detmold, ...
. Mainz: Schott, 2009. *Newman, Ernest, ''The Life of Richard Wagner'' London: Cambridge University Press, 1976 *Palmer, Allen Dean, ''Heinrich August Marschner, 1795–1861: His life and stage works''. Ann Arbor 1980 * *Weber, Brigitta, ''Heinrich Marschner. Königlicher Hofkapellmeister in Hannover''. Hannover: Niedersächsische Staatstheater 1995. (Prinzenstraße. 5) *''Von der Lucretia zum Vampyr. Neue Quellen zu Marschner''. Dokumente zur Entstehung und Rezeption der Lucretia. Vollständige Edition des Reise-Tagebuchs von 1826 bis 1828. Anmerkungen zu Marschners journalistischem Wirken. Hrsg. und kommentiert von Till Gerrit Waidelich. Tutzing: Schneider 1996. *''Heinrich August Marschner. Bericht über das Zittauer Marschner-Symposium''. Ein Symposium des Instituts für Kulturelle Infrastruktur Sachsen. Hrsg. von Allmuth Behrendt und Matthias Theodor Vogt. Leipzig: Leipziger Universitätsverlag 1998. (Kulturelle Infrastruktur. Bd. 5)


External links


''Vampyre'' page with first-night playbill and links to English translation of the libretto and programme-notes for a Los Angeles production

4-act version of the libretto
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vampyr Operas by Heinrich Marschner Operas Romantische Opern German-language operas 1828 operas Operas set in Scotland Operas based on plays Vampires in plays Vampires in music Adaptations of works by Charles Nodier