It’s almost one of New Orleans’ favorite holidays and just in time for Halloween, even the New Orleans Opera is participating in the ghoulish season. Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13 the New Orleans Opera presents Marschner’s nineteenth century romantic opera, Der Vampyr, or The Vampire, at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.

A 1974 Version of "Der Vampyr"

Considered by many as a musical masterpiece, The Vampire is based on a ghost story by Lord Byron and sits musically and dramatically between Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Wagner’s Flying Dutchman. Its music, recently heard at Carnegie Hall, was praised by the New York Times as a “gem of an opera” with an “alluring score” and “lovely choral writing… enlivened with many pictorial and evocative elements.” Der Vampyr was a great influence on both composers and writers of the Romantic era, but the New Orleans Opera production will present the supernatural tale in contemporary New Orleans — more than a perfect setting for a vampiric tale.

Directed by Matthew Lata and conducted by Robert Lyall, next weekend’s run of Der Vampyr will also feature a “Nuts and Bolts” talk with George Dansker, Reference Librarian for the New Orleans Public Library and Music Critic at Opera News one hour prior to curtain. Showtimes are Friday (10/11) evening at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday (10/13) matinee at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are  available online via the NOO website here or by calling the box office at 504-529-3000. The NOO also offers 10% off all tickets for students with ID and 50% off balcony seats.

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OFFBEAT TICKET GIVEAWAY CONTEST

OffBeat Magazine is giving away a pair of tickets

to see Der Vampyr during the weekend of October 11-13.

Simply complete the online form below and submit to enter.

Winners will be notified via Email by Thursday, October 10.

Good Luck!