19 Nov 2006
MARSCHNER: Der Vampyr
Der Vampyr, romantic opera in two acts in the version by Hans Pfitzner (1924).
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ROSSINI: Guglielmo Tell — Rome 1954
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First performance: 5 April 1874 at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna.
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First performance: 7 December 1898 in Moscow.
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Music composed by Heinrich August Marschner (1795-1861). Libretto by Wilhelm August Wohlbrück after the play Der Vampir oder die Totenbraut by Heinrich Ludwig Ritter.
First Performance: 29 March 1828, Theater der Stadt Leipzig, Leipzig
| Principal Characters: | |
| Lord Ruthven, the vampire | Baritone |
| Sir John Berkley | Bass |
| Janthe, his daughter | Soprano |
| Sir Humphrey Davenaut | Bass |
| Malwina, his daughter | Soprano |
| Edgar Aubry, employee of Davenaut's | Tenor |
| The Vampire Master | Spoken role |
| John Perth, Lord Ruthven's steward | Spoken role |
| Emmy, his daughter and Dibdin's fiancee | Soprano |
| George Dibdin, servant of Davenaut's | Tenor |
| Berkley's manservant | Bass |
| James Gadshil | Tenor |
| Richard Scrop | Tenor |
| Robert Green | Bass |
| Toms Blunt | Bass |
| Suse Blunt, Toms's wife | Mezzo-Soprano |
Setting: Sir Humphrey Davenaut's Estate in Scotland, 18th century
Synopsis:
The vampire Lord Ruthven appeals to his Vampire Master to grant him another year of life on earth before being condemned to hell. The Vampire Master agrees provided Ruthven can bring three more victims to him before midnight. Almost instantly, Janthe, daughter of Lord Berkley, falls into Ruthven's clutches and is despatched in the vampires' cave. Her father's rescue party comes belatedly onto the scene and Ruthven is accused of her murder. He is stabbed and left for dead. Aubry, a member of the house of Davenant, comes upon Ruthven's near-lifeless body, however, and helps him recover in the moonlight. Horrified at realising that Ruthven is a vampire, Aubry is nevertheless sworn to secrecy because Ruthven had once saved his life. At a wedding party among the local peasantry shortly afterwards, Ruthven sets his sights on the bride, Emma, lures her away and murders her. Finally, Malwina Davenant prepares to marry Ruthven himself according to her father's wishes (she would prefer Aubry), but Aubry reveals the vampire's true nature and Ruthven is straightaway dragged down to hell by a demonic crew. Davenant awards Malwina's hand to Aubry.
[Synopsis Source: Boosey & Hawkes]
Click here for the complete libretto (original 4-act version)