A romantic opera in 2 acts sung in German.

The libretto is based on Der Vampyr oder die Totenbraut by H. L. Ritter.
Librettist: Wilhelm August WOHLBRÜCK
Accompanied by the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra.

Director: Zoltán Balázs

Zoltán Balázs about Der Vampyr:
“Based on the Dr. John W. Polidori short story of the same title, H. Marschner’s opera, Der Vampyr has the Gothic atmosphere of the “night of Frankeinstein’s”. Doctor Polidori created his ghost story in the bizarre company of Mary Shelley one Swiss night, when more and more strange creatures were let loose by their minds. The richly flowing and extremely sensitive music of Marschner raises the special atmosphere of the novel and it embraces the protagonist of the story, Lord Ruthven the vampire, in a romantic way. Outside the world of the living and the dead, he is searching for his place, time, and mostly himself in his victims. That is why it’s inevitable to entirely identify him as the victim. A direct result is self-destruction. That is why it’s inevitable for him to identify with the role of the victim. The twin-reflex of this self-destructive and re-creational vital force is Aubry, Lord Ruthven’s old friend and perfect complement. They are like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a couple of schizophrenic symbiosis that entered the mystical literature of the collective subconscious. Protagonists of this symbolic opera are lonely planets on the unstoppable roundabout of life and death. The only possible obstacle in the spinning of death drive, the possibility of love. ...The delicate balance of Eros and Thanatos.”

Competition roles:

Janthe/Emmy (soprano): Helen KEARNS (Ireland)
Malwina (soprano): Vanessa LE CHARLÈS (France)
Aubry (tenor): Marc HAFFNER (France)
Ruthven (baritone): Nabil SULIMAN (Syria)

Performers:
Sir Humphrey, Lord von Davenaut (bass): Christophe FEL
Sir Berkley (bass): Christophe FEL
George Dibdin (tenor): François PIOLINO
John Perth (scripted role): Christophe FEL
James Gadshill (first tenor): Jean-Jacques L'ANTHOEN
Richard Scrop (second tenor): Davy CORNILLOT
Robert Green (first bass): Guillaume RAULT
Toms Blunt (second bass): Ronan AIRAULT
Suse (mezzo-soprano): Karine AUDEBERT
Vampire Master (prose role): Marc HAFFNER/Nabil SULIMAN

Accompanied by the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, Resident Orchestra of the festival.

Conductor: Olari ELTS
Set and Costume Design: GOMBÁR Judit
Choreographer: SZŐLLŐSI András
Dramaturg: GÓCZÁN Judit

Opening night: 31 Oktober, 2008, Opera de Rennes, France

Tour:
Armel Operafestival, National Theatre, Szeged, Hungary - 2009