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The vampires are taking over the opera house

By on October 16, 2017

On October 28, the Swedish Royal Opera will be hosting the world premiere of Dracula. It will be the first time the vampire of vampires sings out on a major opera stage. Two days before, on October 26, 1,000 vampires will emerge from their dungeons and take over the opera house.

When the Royal Swedish Opera announced their “Night of the Vampires” dress rehearsal event on Facebook on September 15, it became clear that there is a major popular culture interest in vampires. In the invitation people were asked to “come dressed to match you most beautiful inner vampire” – in only a few hours every seat had been booked.

“This great interest is particularly satisfying and pleasing to me as romantic horror is very close to my heart,” says director Linus Fellbom. “But it’s a little intimidating to admit vampyrists on the first night. I hope they will not be disappointed.”

The vampires will be watching an opera based on Bram Stoker’s novel from 1897 in which Mina’s secure life changes for ever when she falls in love with a mysterious man.

“We experience the same mystique and allure that surrounded vampires and monsters in the 19th century through our own popular culture, so we decided to push the boundaries and create a performance that brings together the magic of the theatre, technology and great music. It will be one of the most technically advanced performances ever produced at the Royal Swedish Opera, and our costume, stage set and makeup workshops have been working hard to achieve all the special effects,” says Opera Director and MD Birgitta Svendén.

The music is by the internationally renowned composer Victoria Borisova-Ollas. The artistic production team – director and lighting designer Linus Fellbom, set designer Dan Potra and composer Karen Kamensek – have created a production full of special effects, romantic horror, Victorian fashion, magnificent choirs, broken hearts, revenge and blood.

“I enjoyed the challenge of working with a highly paced story like Dracula,” says Victoria Borisova-Ollas. “Each scene is full of action and rather short, and they all merge into one another. At the same time this dramatic, action-packed opera is highly dynamic.”

During the evening of October 26, projected images will transform the opera house into Dracula’s castle and the visiting vampires will be able to mingle in all the public spaces of the building.

Helena Olofsson, Culture & Music | Stockholm
MyGuide2Stockholm