LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN

Opéra Fantastique in fünf Akten
Libretto von Jules Barbier
nach dem gleichnamigen Drama von Jules Barbier und Michel Carré
Herausgegeben von Michael Kaye und Jean-Christophe Keck

The poet E. T. A. Hoffmann as the protagonist of his own fantastic stories: In meeting three women – Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta – he searches in vain for love and for himself. Will he be able to draw the strength for art from failure in life? Or does he fail because of himself, even because of alcohol? Like in a kaleidoscope, German romanticism and French esprit mix in ever new constellations and shimmering colors.
The composer died over the work without seeing the world premiere, which took place in a greatly abbreviated form. Since then, the performance story itself has been an exciting detective piece, surprising discoveries have repeatedly shown Hoffmann’s stories in a new, fascinating light.

Hamburg Staatsoper