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Synopsis
Setting
The action of the opera takes place mostly in the Baltic town of
Wisborg in the mid-nineteenth century.
ACT
I
Scene
1
The Counting House
Eric
Hutter, a young man desperate for work, has been invited to the
office of Heinrich Skuller, an eccentric merchant and money-lender.
Skuller announces that he has profitable employment open to Eric—a
chance for the newly married youth to pull himself and Ellen, his
bride, out of poverty. Skuller wishes Eric to go to Hungary in order
to sell a local property to Count Orlock. Eric knows the large townhouse
in question is a virtual ruin, but he gradually allows Skuller to
qualm his conscience with promises of earning enough money to provide
security for Ellen, who is in delicate health. Skuller even hints
that Eric might become a partner in the counting house if he successfully
consummates the deal. He advises the wavering Eric to be strong,
and Eric gradually becomes excited by his suddenly improved prospects.
"Now, my young friend," Skuller tells him. 'Your future is assured."
Scene
2
The Dream
In
the parlor of the Hutter's small apartment Dr. Oscar Harding discusses
Ellen's precarious health with her sister, Marthe. They speak softly
because Ellen is still asleep in the next room after another difficult
night of nightmares and fever. Marthe worries that her sister's
sleepwalking and visionary dreams are the first signs of madness.
Harding, a prosperous local doctor interested in mental illness,
assures Marthe that her sister is physically well. Harding observes,
however, that Ellen has a nervous condition he has never seen before—a
preternaturally heightened sensitivity. It sometimes seems as if
she can hear other people's thoughts.
Eric
now arrives with news of his employment. Both visitors are pleased
to hear of Eric's opportunity, but they worry about the long absence
it will require. They begin to argue over the wisdom of Eric's departure.
At
this point Ellen emerges from the bedroom. Still dressed in her
nightgown, she seems half-asleep. Before Eric can tell her his news,
she recounts a nightmare she has just had. (Aria: "Ellen's
Dream.") Her dream disturbingly suggests that her husband faces
some mysterious danger. Eric tries to comfort her with his news.
Harding and Marthe leave the newlyweds alone to decide the question.
Ellen does not want Eric to leave. She fears for his safety. (Duet:
"Don't Go Away Tonight.") Eric wavers for a moment, but his concerns
over money and their unsettled future make him reject her pleas.
The newlyweds reconcile, but an undercurrent of anxiety remains.
As Eric leaves, Ellen gives him a miniature portrait of herself
as a keepsake.
Scene
3
The Castle
Eric
has arrived at the Count's castle and has spent the afternoon waiting
for his host. He complains to the servant about the silence and
desolation of the deserted castle. As evening falls, servants silently
light the candles, and then Count Orlock appears. He apologizes
for the gloom and isolation of his home. This loneliness explains
his desire to move. Can they discuss the property he hopes to buy?
Orlock seems unconcerned with the price, but he is eager to consummate
the deal. Eric has been drinking wine throughout the scene. He is
both relieved and elated that the deal has been so easily completed.
He asks the Count if he plans to visit the new property. Count Orlock
announces that he plans to move there immediately to escape his
devastated lands. (Scene and Aria: "I Am the Last Survivor of My
House.")
The
Count now begins a sort of seduction of Eric—complimenting
his business acumen and personal charm. Eric is all too hungry to
be appreciated. Although the Count frightens him, he allows himself
to be admired. The Count discovers Eric's small portrait of Ellen.
The effect of the portrait is quietly transfixing. As Orlock stares
at the miniature and begins to ask questions, the far corner of
the stage becomes illuminated to reveal Ellen's bedroom. She rises
somnambulistically to an upright position. She becomes the portrait
they are discussing. At this point Ellen enters the scene fully.
On the other side of the stage, she calls Eric to her. Her song
and Orlock's tug at one another with the quasi-mesmerized Eric caught
in the middle. (Duet and Trio: "O Eric Leave This House of Death.")
The count mysteriously hears Ellen in a way that Eric cannot. Finally,
he closes in on Eric and with the slow, caressing quality of a sexual
conquest, he begins to drink his blood. Ellen can feel the attack
and makes her last, feeble pleas to Eric, "Come home to me." Nosferatu
wins the struggle. Eric falls unconscious at his feet. Ellen collapses.
"And now," Orlock announces, "I come to claim you as my bride."
ACT
II
Scene
4
The Arrival
Ellen
stands at the harbor wall of Wisborg looking out over the sea. In
the early autumn dusk, she sings of her longing for Eric's return.
(Aria: "Ellen's Serenade.") Ellen has not received word of him for
weeks, and yet she intuitively knows he will return. Skuller now
appears. He obsequiously inquires about news from her husband. Repelled
by his unctuous courtesies, Ellen excuses herself and leaves. As
she exits, Skuller appears unexpectedly pleased with himself since
he had intended to drive her away. The sky now darkens, and he waits
anxiously for an arrival. "Tonight at last," he reveals, "the Master
comes."
At
midnight a ship slowly slips into sight. It is silent and unmanned
except for a solitary figure—Count Orlock who is now younger
and more vital than in the previous scene. As he descends from the
ship, a swarm of rats follows him onto the land. Skuller slavishly
welcomes his master to Wisborg. Four silent figures appear and unload
Nosferatu's earth-filled coffins from the ship. The Count dismisses
Skuller. Alone on the dock, Orlock knows that the absent Ellen can
sense his arrival. He tells her that they are fated to be together.
(Aria: "Nosferatu's Nocturne.") He will call to her every midnight
until she invites him to her side.
Scene
5
The Madhouse
A
mysterious plague has come to Wisborg. Death is everywhere. Ellen
and Marthe watch in horror as a funeral procession bearing the coffins
of a mother and her small child passes them on the street and a
small group of monks sing the "Dies Irae." They enter the madhouse
where Harding explains the strange nature of the disease, which
kills some victims quickly but destroys others more slowly by draining
away their vitality. These lingering victims often display odd sores
on their necks and suffer horrifying nocturnal visions. Harding
confidently predicts that science will explain and cure the puzzling
new disease.
Eric
has returned from Hungary, but he is now confined to Dr. Harding's
asylum. In his madness Eric believes that he has become wealthy
from his business venture with Count Orlock. He thinks the asylum
is his new mansion, and he cannot understand why Ellen will not
join him. He begs her to return to him and confesses he is stricken
by terrible nightmares in her absence. He feels she is in danger.
Ellen calms him with a lullaby. Only she understands the real cause
of his madness and the plague. Knowing that no one will believe
her story, she resolves to fight the vampire alone. She will lure
him to her room and keep him there until daylight.
Scene
6
Midnight
Ellen
waits in her bedroom. When Nosferatu called to her this midnight,
she assented. Waiting for his arrival, she is full of terror. She
has dressed in her wedding nightgown and then kneels to pray to
the Virgin. (Aria: "Ellen's Prayer.") After her "Salve, Regina,"
she reveals her plan to keep Nosferatu in her embrace until dawn.
Suddenly she feels him approach. His shadow enters the room before
him. He looks on her with a passion beyond predatory desire. He
sings of his desire to share eternity with her. Prolonging their
overtures, she responds that they will always be together. Finally,
she willing bares her neck. The first light peaks through the window.
Nosferatu now realizes the trick. He has a moment to escape but
chooses instead to embrace her. Ellen yields as he drains her life
away. "Now you are mine forever," he whispers as he turns to face
the dawn now entering the window. As the morning church bells ring,
he disintegrates into dust. Ellen watches him disappear and falls
back on to her bed—dead.
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