Heinrich Marschner

Der Vampyr

Heinrich August Marschner (1795 - 1861) was a German composer born in Zittau. After a meeting with Beethoven, he decided to devote himself to music and became a private music teacher in Bratislava. Marschner is considered the most important composer of German opera between Weber and Wagner and was widely regarded as one of the most important composers in Europe from about 1830 until the end of the 19th century.
'Der Vampyr' ('The Vampire') is a romantic opera in two acts. The libretto is based on the play 'Der Vampir oder die Totenbraut' (1821) by Heinrich Ludwig Ritter, which itself was based on the short story 'The Vampyre' (1819) by John Polidori. The first performance took place on 29 March 1828 in Leipzig, where it was a hit. Nowadays the opera is still occasionally performed.
Dutch arranger Jos van de Braak transcribed the overture of 'Der Vampyr' for Symphonic Band.