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 Opera, People’s Artist of Russia Yuri Alexandrov.
According to the plot, during the witches' Sabbath, the vampire Lord Ruthven learns that if he does not sacrifice three innocent girls within 24 hours, he will die. His first victim is Zhante. The girl's father discovers her body in a cave next to the vampire and manages to wound him. Lord Ruthven is found by a certain Edgar Aubrey and carries the vampire into the moonlight, which saves his life. In the morning, Aubrey learns that his beloved Malvina Davenaut is to marry a certain Earl Marsden. Seeing the Count, Aubrey recognizes him as Ruthven, but cannot reveal the secret, since Ruthven took an oath from him not to reveal his true identity. If the secret is revealed within the next 24 hours, Aubrey will also become a vampire. Ruthven seduces Emmy, the fiancée of Georg, an employee in Davenauth's house. After this, he returns to his own wedding. Aubrey decides to reveal the Vampire's secret, no matter the consequences. However, when the clock strikes one, the oath expires and Aubrey betrays Ruthven. The vampire falls into hell. Malvina's father gives permission for his daughter and Aubrey to marry.
