J A C Q U E S O F F E N B A C H

LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN VITTORIO GRIGÒLO ∙ THOMAS HAMPSON ∙ SOFIA FOMINA CHRISTINE RICE ∙ SONYA YONCHEVA ∙ KATE LINDSEY

ORCHESTRA OF THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSECONDUCTED BY EVELINO PIDÒ

STAGED BY JOHN SCHLESINGER

Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) is one of his most serious operas, in which his witty and highly melodious music finds the perfect vehicle in the romantic, richly imaginative world of the storyteller E.T.A. Hoffmann.

Created by Academy Award-winning film director John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy) and conducted by Evelino Pidò, this production of the Royal Opera House showcases a starry cast, featuring Vittorio Grigòlo, Thomas Hampson, Sonya Yoncheva, Christine Rice and Kate Lindsey.

The great storyteller Hoffmann is losing himself to drink. His rival in love, Councillor Lindorf, goads him into telling the tales of his three great loves, each destroyed by a villain who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lindorf. First Hoffmann tells of his infatuation for the mechanical doll, Olympia – who is destroyed by the inventor Coppélius. The next one is the courtesan Giulietta, who throws over his adoration in favour of jewels from the magician Dappertutto. Finally, the gentle Antonia is forced to sing to her death by the wicked Doctor Miracle. His stories finished, Hoffmann rouses from his drunken stupor to find Lindorf has made off with Stella, Hoffmann’s latest love – but the Muse compels him to transform his heartache into art.

The charismatic young tenor Vittorio Grigòlo “acts with terrific fervour as both the drunken wreck of the exordia and the ingenuous patsy of the central episodes” (The Daily Telegraph). He appears in a “most striking pairing” (The Guardian) with Thomas Hampson, who performs all four villains. The women’s vocal virtuosity has been highly praised as well: “Sofia Fomina’s Olympia, with her steely, clockwork coloratura, contrasts nicely with Christine Rice’s truly dangerous Giulietta. Sonya Yoncheva […] makes a heartbreaking Antonia” (The Guardian). Kate Lindsey scores with her “flawlessly sung, immaculately observed double role as Hoffmann’s young amanuensis Nicklausse and his protective Muse” (The Stage).

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Conductor Evelino PidòOrchestra Orchestra of the

Royal Opera HouseChorus Royal Opera Chorus

Chorus Master William SpauldingStage Director John Schlesinger

Director of Performance Daniel Dooner

Hoffmann Vittorio GrigòloLindorf/Coppélius/

Dappertutto/Miracle Thomas HampsonOlympia Sofia FominaGiulietta Christine RiceAntonia Sonya Yoncheva

Nicklausse Kate LindseySpalanzani Christophe Mortagne

Crespel Eric Halfvarsonet al.

Video Director Jonathan Haswell

J A C Q U E S O F F E N B A C H

LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN

Length: approx. 170' Shot in HDTV 1080/50i

Cat. no. A 020 50096

A production ofRoyal Opera House, Covent Garden World Sales:

Tel. +49.30.30306464mail@cmajor-entertainment.com

Unitel GmbH & Co. KG, Germany · Tel. +49.89.673469-630 · info@unitel.de www.unitel.de