Fri, Feb. 14, 2025, 7.00 pm - 10.45 pm | Main Stage
Jacques Offenbach
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Introduction at 6.20 pm
Opéra Fantastique in five acts
Libretto by Jules Barbier
Based on the play by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Edited by Michael Kaye and Jean-Christophe Keck
The poet E. T. A. Hoffmann as the protagonist of his own fantastic tales: In his encounter with three women - Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta - he searches in vain for love for love and for himself. Will he draw the strength for art from his failure in life? art from his failures in life? Or will he fail in himself, even in alcohol? Like in a kaleidoscope, ever new constellations and shimmering colors constellations and shimmering colors German romanticism and French esprit.
The composer died over the work without the first performance, which took place in a greatly greatly abridged form. Since then the performance history itself has been an exciting crime play, surprising discoveries have made Hoffmann's tales appear again and again in a new in a new and fascinating light.
Musical direction: Kent Nagano
Direction: Daniele Finzi Pasca
Co-direction: Mellissa Vettore
Stage design: Hugo Gargiulo
Associate Set design: Matteo Verlicchi
Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi
Associate Costumes: Ambra Schumacher
Lighting: Daniele Finzi Pasca, Marzio Picchetti
Video: Roberto Vitalini
Choreography: Maria Bonzanigo
Dramaturgy: Savina Kationi, Ralf Waldschmidt
Choire: Eberhard Friedrich
A break of 25 minutes after Act II (after about 72 minutes) and a break of 25 minutes after Act III (after about 147 minutes)
In French with German surtexts
Supported by the Stiftung zur Förderung der Hamburgischen Staatsoper
