DER VAMPYR
In Brief
Opera in two acts, in German, with Hungarian and English surtitles
Performance by The St. Petersburg Chamber Opera
The opera “Vampire” is a German romantic opera imbued with Gothic motifs. Wilhelm August Wohlbrück wrote the libretto based on the play The Vampire (1821) by Heinrich Ludwig Ritter. The premiere of the opera “Vampire” took place on March 29, 1828 at the Leipzig city theater. It was attended by Richard Wagner, who was inspired by The Vampire when working on The Flying Dutchman.
The Vampire, along with the operas “Hans Geiling” and “The Templar and the Jewess”, is considered one of Marschner's best works. Here, as in “Hans Geiling,” genre and everyday scenes are combined with ominous fantasy. The composer's work explores the darker sides of human nature and deepens themes of love, betrayal and redemption.
“I consider Marschner’s music outstanding because he is a real theatrical composer who creates a dramatic collision in such detail, so boldly, confidently and brightly that the director can only succumb to this wave of emotion and music and force himself and the performers to completely submit to this element. About the play, I can say that we are not making another horror story, we do not have scenes of torture. Our production, first of all, shows the torment of an unfortunate creature, which fate has turned into a vampire, into a monster, but there are still remnants of human consciousness in it. The study of individuals susceptible to this terrible disease is very interesting for me,” said artistic director and founder of the St. Petersburg Chamber Opera, People’s Artist of Russia Yuri Alexandrov.
Synopsis
Act 1
At a gathering of dark forces, the Lord of Darkness gives the vampire Lord Ruthven a challenge: he must sacrifice three young brides by midnight if he wishes to remain on Earth for another year. The first victim is a young woman named Jante. Bewitched by his demonic power, she runs away from home to meet Ruthven for a romantic encounter, but he drains her blood, killing her. Jante's father mortally wounds the vampire.
Lord Ruthven, bleeding heavily, is found by his old acquaintance, Edgar Aubry. Suspecting that Ruthven is a vampire, Aubry is forced to swear not to reveal Ruthven’s true identity until midnight, or else he will become a vampire himself. Aubry helps revive Ruthven.
The next morning, Aubry learns that the father of his beloved Malvina, Sir Humphrey Davenaut, plans to marry her off to a certain Count von Marsden. When the groom arrives at the Davenaut home to congratulate Malvina, Aubry recognizes him as Lord Ruthven. However, bound by his oath, he cannot reveal who Marsden truly is.
Act 2
At a neighboring estate, the servants are celebrating the wedding of Emmy and George, but the groom is delayed by his duties at Sir Humphrey's house. The guests discuss the recent mysterious murder of Jante. Emmy recalls a frightening childhood tale about a vampire her mother used to tell her. Suddenly, the new owner of the estate, Count von Marsden, arrives and frightens the guests with his sudden appearance. The estate manager, John Perth, introduces his daughter Emmy to the Count. Ruthven, disguised as Marsden, attempts to seduce her. Upset by her fiancé's delay, Emmy responds to the Count’s advances, only to be caught by George. Furious at her betrayal, George vows to shoot both Emmy and himself if he sees her with the Count again.
Aubry arrives at Marsden's estate and threatens to reveal Ruthven’s true identity unless he calls off the wedding to Malvina. In response, the vampire tells Aubry the terrifying story of how he was transformed into a monster and reminds him of the curse that will fall upon him if he breaks his vow.
Ruthven leads Emmy away from the wedding celebration to a secluded garden corner, where he makes her his second victim.
Meanwhile, the guests, having drunk heavily, notice that both the bride and groom are missing. Suddenly, a gunshot rings out. George, now mad with grief, announces that Emmy has been killed and that he shot the Count.
Back at the Davenaut estate, everything is ready for a grand wedding. Aubry makes one last attempt to convince Malvina that marrying the Count is equivalent to her death. The young lovers can only place their hope in God.
Count von Marsden arrives at the celebration. Malvina begs her father to delay the wedding. Sir Humphrey is inclined to listen, but Ruthven refuses to wait another minute and practically drags Malvina to the altar. Just then, the bells toll midnight. Despite the deadly curse, Aubry chooses to save his beloved at the cost of his own life and reveals to everyone that Count von Marsden is a vampire. Before the astonished guests, Lord Ruthven is pulled into the depths of hell.
Shaken by the realization that he nearly doomed his daughter, Davenaut asks for her forgiveness and gives his blessing for her to marry Aubry. The lovers are overjoyed and praise God.
