Les Contes d'Hoffmann

The celebrated 1980 production is revived

The Tales Of Hoffmann by Offenbach is the composer's surviving "serious" opera in a collection otherwise full of light-hearted works, and in fact refers to the famed libretto E.T.A Hoffmann, who as we know is the original author of The Nutcracker. This revival production, originally staged in 1980, created by noted film director John Schlesinger. Hoffmann is the hero in these three tales, thwarted in love three times by his lifelong rival, Councillor Lindorf.

A witty and musically Romantic opera, the music is a perfect vehicle to tell the stories of E.T.A. Hoffmann, as the central character nears death thanks to alcoholism. Accused by Lindorf as having no experience in matters of the heart, Hoffmann's three stories of thwarted love all point to a mysterious interloper, all of whom bear more than a striking resemblance to the smug councillor.