The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenback

The Tales of Hoffmann 1

By Jacques Offenbach 2

at the3

Summer Opera Lyric Theatre 4

And Research center5

Summer 2006 workshop Productions6

The Tales of Hoffmann recently performed at SOLT’s (University of Toronto is based on the life and works of German writer-composer E.T.A. Hoffmann. The libretto by Jacques Barbier contains three short stories, Der Sandmann, Roth Krespel and Das verlorene Spiegel of the character Hoffmann himself as he appeared to others in real life. The opera made up of a prologue, three acts and epilogue is about the triumph of mystical powers against those of enlightment and the force of the mystical taking over and controlling the destiny of the character. Firstly music and automation causes Hoffmann to be deceived and fall in love with incantations of art and scientific inventions and entrapments and beguiling and leading him to mistake mechanical objects as real people and musical talent as real love. The opera whose music serves as the magical thread throughout the story and also means to capture Hoffman’s heart begins in Nuremberg in a local tavern where a drunkard poet (Hoffmann) is waiting for his unreachable love and opera diva to end her act Don Giovanni playing in at a theater nearby. While drinking and entertaining his friends he is encouraged to tell stories about his past loves,7

Olympia his first love is the result of alchemy, a mechanical doll invented by the scientist Sparlazani and his co-maker Coppelius whose magic glasses make Olympia appear as a real woman. Olympia dances Hoffmann into a mechanical haze and sings Les Oiseaux Dans Les Carmilles the Opera’s most famous arias and Hoffmann is tricked into believing his love his being returned . As he falls to the ground, his glasses break at the same time Coppelius enters and breaks the doll apart and Hoffmann realizes he has fallen in love with automation. 8

Next Hoffmann falls in love with Giulietta a Venetian courtesan, but Giulietta is only seducing him in order to capture his reflection in the mirror for Captain Dappertutto who has promised her a diamond ring. Hoffmann cannot resist Giulietta and ends up giving out his reflection only to be abandoned by Giulietta. Hoffmann tells Captain Dappertutto that his friend Nicklausse will come for him and save him. Captain Dappertutto decided to prepare a poison for Nicklausse but Giulietta ends up drinking it by mistake and dies. 9

Finally Hoffmann falls in love with the very ill singer Antonia whose being hidden away and forbidden to sing by her father Crespel.. Hoffmann and Antonia love each other and Hoffmann encourages Antonia to pursuit her musical talent not knowing that singing could kill her. Hoffman overhears a conversation between Crespel and Dr Miracle that Antonia may die if she goes on singing and returns to Antonia to ask her to stop working towards a future in singing but Dr Miracle instead encourages Antonia to follow her mother’s footstep and establish herself a musical talent and through witchcraft he induces Antonia to sing to death. Crespel believing Hoffmann to be the cause of his daughter death wants to kill him but Nicklausse Hoffmann’s friend and muse of poetry intervenes and saves him from Caspel’s vengeance. 10

In the final act, back in Nuremberg Hoffmann sits with his friends in the tavern, Nicklausse his best friend explains to him that his three loves were a personification of the person who is really Stella but who has run off with the Councilor. Hoffmann comes to terms with things and concludes that he is not in love with Stella but that Nicklausse his best friend and muse of poetry is the real inspiration and his real and true love. 11

The three stories whose order of appearance can easily be changed include different versions of the tales and modification of extra music not written by Offenbach and spoken dialogue changed into recitative. The Opera performed by vocalists, students, professional singers and teachers combined aims to connect learning and performing 12

And in so doing promote musical and dramatic education in Canada. 13

The talented cast wit Ryan Harper as Hoffmann, Amanda Cochrane as Nicklausse, Virra Chan as Olympia , Natalie Rogerson as Giulietta, and Ada Bolar as Antonia has cleverly captured the magical force and power spurring the characters on as well as aroused anew the love for music and each character effectively stage crafting all manifestations of evil.14

Rosa Arlotto15

Aug 13, 2006 16