Marschner, Heinrich August

Der Vampyr (1827)

Duration: 145 minutes
Romantic opera in two acts in the version by Hans Pfitzner (1924)

Libretto by Wilhelm August Wohlbrück after the play 'Der Vampir oder die Totenbraut' by Heinrich Ludwig Ritter (G)

Scoring
Major roles: 2S,T,Bar,2B; minor roles: S,M,3T,3B,2actors; chorus 2.2.2.2.dbn-4.2.3.0-timp.perc-harp-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for all countries except Germany, Italy, Portugal, Danzig, and the former territories of the USSR.

World Premiere
3/29/1828
Leipzig
Company: Theater der Stadt Leipzig

Roles

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
Demons and Creatures of the Underworld; Peasants and Retainers; Ladies and Gentlemen

Time and Place
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.

Moods
Dramatic, Romantic

Subjects
History, Magic/Mystery, Relationships

Recommended Recording
Martin Engel/Carol Farley/Josef Protschka/Siegmund Nimsgern/Orchestra Sinfoniaca e Coro di Roma della Radiotelevisione Italiana/Günter Neuhold
Fonit-Cetra 8573-84436-2

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