A VÁMPÍR

The Vampire is a German Romantic opera with Gothic motifs. Wilhelm August Wohlbrück wrote the libretto based on Heinrich Ludwig Ritter's drama The Vampire (1821). The opera The Vampire premiered on 29 March 1828 at the Leipzig City Theatre. The performance was attended by Richard Wagner, who had been inspired by The Vampire while working on The Planet Dutchman.

The Vampire is one of Marschner's best works, as are the operas Hans Heiling and The Knight Templar and The Jewess. Here, as in Hans Heiling, he combines genre and everyday scenes with sinister fantasy elements. The composer's work explores the darker side of human nature, deepening themes of love, betrayal and redemption.

"I consider Marschner's music to be outstanding because he is a true theatre composer, creating dramatic clashes with such detail, boldness, confidence and vivacity that the director is forced to submit to this emotional and musical wave and to surrender himself and his performers completely to this element. As for the performance, it is not another horror story, there will be no scenes of torture. Our production is primarily about the torment of an unfortunate creature who has been transformed by fate into a vampire, a monster, but who still has the remnants of humanity. The study of individuals prone to this terrible disease is very interesting to me," said Yuri Alexandrov, artistic director and founder of the St. Petersburg Opera, a folk artist of Russia.

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. Her father finds her body in a cave next to the vampire and manages to wound her. Lord Ruthven is found by one Edgar Aubrey and takes the vampire into the moonlight, which saves his life. In the morning, Aubrey learns that his beloved Malvina Davenaut is to marry one Earl Marsden. When she sees the Earl, Aubrey recognizes him as Ruthven, but she cannot reveal the secret, as Ruthven has made her swear an oath not to reveal her true identity. If the secret is revealed within the next 24 hours, Aubrey will become a vampire too. Ruthven seduces Emma, the fiancée of George, an employee of Davenaut's house. He then returns to his own wedding. Aubrey is determined to reveal the vampire's secret, whatever the cost. But when the clock strikes one, the vow expires and Aubrey betrays Ruthven. The vampire falls into hell. Malvina's father gives his daughter and Aubrey permission to marry.