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Music Text

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)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

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

Availability

World Premiere
29/03/1828
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
Recommended Recording
cd_cover

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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