Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann), staged at the La Scala Theatre, is the unfinished opera by French composer Jacques Offenbach the splendidly directed by Davide Livermore on the podium Frédéric Chaslin. The opera is based on a series of short stories by the German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann. The opera was composed between 1879 and 1880 and premiered at the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris on 10 February 1881 when the composer had already died.
In the story, the protagonist, Hoffmann, is a poet and singer who recounts his amorous misfortunes in the form of three separate stories, each of which tells of a woman he has loved and lost. The stories are linked by the figure of Lindorf, an evil character who appears in each tale as Hoffmann's antagonist. The work takes place in a Nuremberg tavern, where Hoffmann recounts his sad and unfortunate love affairs. with Olympia, Antonia and Juliet.
In the epilogue, Hoffmann realises that all his love stories have been manipulated by Lindorf and that Stella contains the essence of the three women he loved.
Among the performers are the always histrionic and charismatic Vittorio Grigolo the excellent Marina Viotti, Federica Guida, Eleonora Buratto, Francesca Di Sauro and the young and promising Greta Doveri.
Les Contes d'Hoffmann is a fantasy opera with an extraordinary variety of musical styles, which amazes thanks to the contribution of the mimes brought to the stage by Controluce Shadow Theatre and astounding magic tricks. Also to be seen on LaScalaTv.co.uk
Photos Brescia Amisano
