Offenbach's 'The Tales of Hoffmann', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a cast, orchestra, conductor and stage team fully up to tackling a very demanding project.'

<<< << -- 4 -- Robert Anderson WEIRD LOVE TALES

Back to the beer-cellar for the epilogue. Hoffmann has spun out the sorry tale of his disastrous loves and is no more sober than when he began. Nicklausse and the fine Bilbao chorus can only express what we all must feel: 'Poor Hoffmann'. If, to add final insult to a multitude of injuries, Lindorf now goes off with Stella, the work has reached its inevitable conclusion [watch and listen -- DVD 2 chapter 25, 81:04-82:53]. One fears for Hoffmann's future but not for that of the Bilbao opera house, clearly a splendid building, and capable of assembling for this exacting piece a cast, orchestra, conductor and stage team fully up to tackling a very demanding project.

Offenbach: Les Contes D'Hoffmann

OA 0968 D 2xDVD9 NTSC 16/9 Anamorphic LPCM Stereo / Digital DTS Surround NEW RELEASE 185' Opus Arte/ABAO 2006, Opus Arte 2007

Aquiles Machado, Hoffmann; Konstantin Gorny, Lindorf, Coppélius, Dr Miracle and Dapertutto; Katharine Goeldner, Nicklausse and The Muse; María Bayo, Antonia; Valentina Kutzarova, Giulietta; Milagros Poblador, Olympia; Christophe Fel, Luther and Crespel; Christian Jean, Spalanzani; Itxaro Mentxaka, Antonia's mother; José Ruiz, Andrés, Cochenille, Frantz and Pitichinaccio; Marco Moncloa, Hermann and Schlémil; Manuel de Diego, Nathanael; Itziar Fernández de Unda, Stella; David Aguayo Marqués, bass voice; Chorus if Ópera de Bilbao; Boris Dujin, chorus master; Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa; Alain Guingal, musical director; Giancarlo del Monaco, stage director; Michael Scott, sets and costumes; Wolfgang von Zoubek, lighting

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): Les Contes d'Hoffmann (fantastic opera in five parts, with a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré)

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UNBUTTONED BEECHAM - A VINTAGE 'HOFFMANN' PERFORMANCE

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