Les Contes d'Hoffmann

in
 

Offenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann opera to a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. Directed 2018 by Tobias Kratzer. Stars Nina Minasyan (Olympia), Ermonela Jaho (Antonia), Christine Rice (Giulietta), Irene Roberts (La Muse), John Osborn (Hoffmann), Eva Kroon (La Voix de la Tombe), Erwin Schrott (Lindorf/Coppélius/Miracle/Dapertutto), Rodolphe Briand (Spalanzani), Paul Gay (Luther/Crespel), François Lis (Peter Schlémil), Sunnyboy Dladla (Andrès/Cochenille/Frantz/Pitichinaccio), Mark Omvlee (Nathanaël), Frederik Bergman (Hermann), Alexander de Jong (Wilhelm), and Peter Arink (Le captaine des Sbires). Carlo Rizzi conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chorus of the Dutch National Opera (Chorus Master Ching-Lien Wu). Set and costume design by Rainer Sellmaier; lighting design by Bernd Purkrabek; dramaturgy by Klaus Bertisch. Directed for TV by Misjel Vermeiren. Sung in French. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

Richard Bratby (June 2020 Gramophone, page 78) has high praise (and no demerits) for the singers here and the Rotterdam orchestra’s colors that “really glow.” The set is Hoffman’s apartment with rooms for each of Hoffman’s fantasies, which maybe works better in the HT than live. Videographer Misjel Vermieren maintains good balance of long-range shots, split-screen effects, and close-ups. And director Kratzer “rewards you with an emotional pay-off that’s both moving and thoroughly earned.”

Here’s a trailer from C Major and one from the Dutch National Opera in an English and a Dutch version. Could be a winner if you can get used to those safety wires!

John Osborn, Irene Roberts, Nina Minasyan, Christine Rice, Ermonela Jaho, Erwin Schrott, Chorus of the National Opera Rotterdam Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Rizzi staged by Tobias Kratzer The "superb, sinister" Tales of Hoffmann at the Dutch National Opera with "excellent soloists, the impressive John Osborn" (Theaterkrant) and "Christine Rice, a vocally and physically voluptuous Giulietta" (bachtrack.com), "mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts, who plays and sings brilliantly" (Groene Amsterdammer) and "Erwin Schrott, singing the four villains for the first time, made it look like a blast."
At a tavern, Hoffmann and Nicklausse meet students who ask the poet to tell them his three great love stories : Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta. Which one of them does the poet truly love? The exceptional tenor, John Osborn, plays the title role of Hoffmann.
Les contes d'Hoffmann is een 'opéra fantastique' waarin de romantische dichter Hoffmann in een dronkemansroes de belangrijke vrouwen uit zijn leven bovenhaalt. Werkelijkheid en fantasie lopen in dit meesterwerk in elkaar over. LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN, Opéra in five acts by Jacques Offenbach.

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