Der Vampyr

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Marschner, often seen as a bridge between Weber and Wagner, is an under-rated, entertaining composer. Der Vampyr is good fun, filled with creepy situations and melodrama, and it's nicely orchestrated, to boot. This 1951 recording is not the one you want. It offers a narration in German instead of the dialog (and no booklet with translations, no libretto), a couple of numbers are cut entirely (40 minutes of the opera are missing), both sopranos are terrible, the tenor Aubry is weak, and the sound is bad. There is a good recording from Munich in 1974 led by Fritz Reiger on Opera d'Oro with a fine cast, including Anna Tomowa-Sintow and Arleen Auger, with a nicely sneering Roland Hermann as the Vampire Ruthven. And it's cheaper, too. --Robert Levine

Tracks:

Der Vampyr: Act One: Overture
Der Vampyr: Act One: Ihr Hexen und Geister (Vampire Master) (Lord Ruthven)
Der Vampyr: Act One: Ha, noch einen ganzen Tag (Ruthven)
Der Vampyr: Act One: Teur Eltern einz'ge Freude (Janthe) (Ruthven)
Der Vampyr: Act One: Wo kann sie sein? (Berkley) (Janthe) (Ruthven)
Der Vampyr: Act One: Heiter lacht die goldne Fruhlingssonne (Malwina) (Aubry)
Der Vampyr: Act One: Wie, mein Vater! (Malwina) (Aubry) (Davenaut)
Der Vampyr: Act One: Hier, Malwina, ist der Mann (Davenaut)

Tracks:

Der Vampyr: Act Two: Hort in die Geigen
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Dort am jenen Felsenhang (Emmy)
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Sieh, Mutter, dort den bleichen Mann (Emmy)
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Ihr wollt mich nur beschamen (Emmy) (Ruthven) (Georg)
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Wohl du zwingst mich zum verbrechen (Aubry) (Ruthven)
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Ha, wie das grauenvolle Bild (Aubry)
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Leise dort zur fernen Laube (Ruthven) (Emmy)
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Toast And Scene
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Freuden und leiden
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Halter ein! (Aubry) (Malwina)
Der Vampyr: Act Two: Blumen und Bluten im Zephirgekose

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2006-11-16

A little known german opera. Interesting plot and historical recording. I came to this mainly because of Anna Tomowa-Sintow, and, surprise surprise: the cd does not contain the libretto!!! Really bad. Anyone interested should beware.

Gothic Opera About A Vampire: A Rare Treasure of German Opera.......2005-10-18

Operaphiles who thirst for newer, unheard of works would adore this recording of a live radio broadcast in Germany. All the singers, except for soprano Anna Tomowa Sintow, are German and sing with lazer-sharp diction and dramatic prowess. This is sheer Gothic melodrama, complete with spoken dialogue. It does indeed resemble Weber's Die Freutschutz or Wagner's Flying Dutchman. It contains all the supernatural and Gothic elements of early romance novels which stirred the imaginations of such writers as Mary Shelley of Frankenstein fame, J. Sheridan LeFanu and Bram Stroker. This rare work must have been quite a thriller in its day since no other opera had ever taken up the subject of a vampire as the hero. Lord Ruthven is a Byronic vampire who fancies himself a romantic and sensual conqueror. In the course of this magical/supernatural opera he dies three times before he is finally defeated by a bolt of lightning (a sign of the power of God over darkness). Kurt Boeme as Lord Ruthven is doing a terrific job. His baritone voice is appropriately dark, edgy and sinister yet elegant and seductive. No wonder he has so many women under his spell. He reminds me of an operatic version of actor Frank Langella's portrayal of Dracula. Arlene Auger, a powerful soprano of full lyric beauty and excellent command of German opera, sings the woman of Ruthven's dreams. Auger's voice is practically flawless and her purity of tone is so beautiful and angelic that she makes the German language sound more mellifluous than its typically harsh sound. Arlene Auger is largely considered a modern exemplary exponent of Mozart soprano repertoire. In contrast, Anna Tomowa Sintow is a heavier spinto voice, with enough dramatic edge to essay such roles as Dona Ana in Don Giovanni and even Puccini's Tosca. She sounds majestic on this recording. Without a doubt this is a must have for fans of rare opera. Plus, its Halloween at the end of the month and it would be perfect for your current Gothic mood.

NEGLECTED.......2002-03-17

Marschner is only really heard in selections, with Der Vampyr the only complete work currently available. This is tantalising since this one work is certainly comparable with the better known operas of Weber, and at times has drama on a par with any other operas of the period. The orchestration is often full of colour and it would be interesting to know to what extent he influenced the romantic composers such as Berlioz -- I don't recall Marschner being mentioned -- but it's over 30 years since I read his Memoirs. I hope one day other works will become available.

Beautiful Music!!!.......2002-01-11

I'm always looking for operas that aren't performed very often. Mainly because my opera company (Lyric Opera of Los Angeles) has a goal of performing works that, inexplicably, have fallen out of the standard repertoire, or might not have made it into the standards to begin with.

Der Vampyr is really beautiful music! The story line is a little off-the-wall, but most operas are pretty silly in that regard anyway.

Arleen Auger is wonderful in this recording. As usual.

The only criticism I have is that the liner notes are incredibly sparse. I wish there was a libretto in it, but there's not.

However, for really great music that you don't get to hear often, I highly recommend this recording!!!

A Gothic Fidelio.......2000-03-01

Very much in the vein of Beethoven, without the nobility. You may have heard "Ach, Welche Lust" aria on the Hampson German Aria CD, and it's taken well here-- a long test of high baritone endurance. Forgive me, but I am a big fan of Tomova-Sintov and a HUGE HUGE fan of Auger, so anything with both of them is worth hearing, let alone at this price. Kind of silly, but surrender to the black and white spookiness and it's fun (and not just campy Lugosi-style, but with a dollop of dangerous eroticism). If you have any experience with Opera d'Oro, you know that they are like the little girl who had a little curl right in the center of her forehead. When the operas are good they are very good, but when they are bad.. well, you know. Bad (I Lombardi in which the deplorable sound makes the timpani sound like someone pounding the side of a porcelain bathtub only without any helpful reverb) but rather good as in Der Vampyr. Sound is quite good and the audience pretty much keeps still. Give it a shot-

Average customer rating:

Marschner: Der Vampyr
Hermann , Auger , Grobe , Rieger , and Bavarian Radio SO
Manufacturer: Opera D'oro
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000B9EXZI
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Album Description

Heinrich Marschner (1795-1861) was a popular Early Romantic opera composer in Germany whose works disappeared for a few decades but have been successfully revived in recent times. Two of his operas, the proto-Wagnerian Hans Heiling, and the spooky Der Vampyr, have had frequent performances and recordings lately, but we do not think there is a better version of Der Vampyr than this one! Recorded live in Munich in 1974, the performance features a number of major singers, something rare in "non-standard" operas. The recorded sound is quite exceptional, too! First performed in 1828, Der Vampyr has a hair-raising Gothic plot about Lord Ruthven, a vampire much like Count Dracula, and his thirst for the blood of young females. The music is much in the vein of Mendelssohn or Weber. Wagner was a great admirer of Marschner and actually quotes one of his themes quite literally in Die Walkure.

Average customer rating:

Marschner: Der Vampyr

Manufacturer: Memories
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000JJJBN4

Average customer rating:

Marschner: Der Vampyr

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Weber: Oberon

ASIN: B00005O6DL
Release Date: 2002-05-01

Average customer rating:

Der Vampyr
Marschner , Neuhold , and Coro Di Roma Della
Manufacturer: Fonit Cetra Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000045GX
Release Date: 1996-12-17

Average customer rating:

The version to go for
CAROLE FARLEY AT HER BEST

Heinrich August Marschner: Der Vampyr

Manufacturer: Opera Hommage
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004NRXS
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Customer Reviews:

The version to go for.......2003-01-09

I first picked up the Opera d'Oro version of Marschner's opera, and I loved it. Definitely one of the label's better releases. However, this production has the benefit of much better sound at the same bargain price. I won't attempt to evaluate the differences between individual performers, since I'm not that much of an expert, but when you consider the fact that this can be had at the same price, the choice is clear. For fans of German romantic opera, this is an absolute must. It is a shame that it isn't more frequently produced, as even British magazine Gramophone has stated-- it certainly deserves a more prominent spot in the repertoire.

One drawback: the libretto is included, but is only printed in German and Italian. Of course, the d'Oro version doesn't have a libretto, and surely a synopsis wouldn't be too hard to find online or in a reference book.

CAROLE FARLEY AT HER BEST.......2002-01-02

What an interesting release! The sound transfer is first-class.
The most outstanding performance is by the American soprano Carole Farley. Not to be missed. Dramatic and powerful. It's incredible that this opera has not joined the repertoire.

Average customer rating:

German Opera Arias

Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RUN
Release Date: 1995-06-13

Tracks:

Die tote Stadt: Mein Sehnen, mein Wahnen
Zar und Zimmermann: Verraten!...
Der Wildschultz: Wie freundlich strahlt...
Hans Heiling: An jenem Tag
Der Vampyr: Ha! Noch einen ganzen Tag
Euryanthe: Wo berg' ich mich?...
Faust: Der Holle selbst will ich...
Das Nachtlager in Granada: Die Nacht ist schon
Der ferne Klang: In einem Lande ein bleicher Konig
Konigskinder: Verdorben! Gestorben! - Thomas Hampson/Kinderchor des Pestalozzi-Gymnasiums
Tannhauser: Wie Todesahnung...
Die Walkure: Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond