Overview
Synopsis
Set during the interval of a performance of Don Giovanni, the writer and poet Hoffmann entertains a group of students and drinkers in Luther's Tavern by telling them of his three greatest past loves. He is guided through his memories by his Muse, disguised as his friend Nicklausse.
In Hoffman's stories, three different women are presented, each with their own strengths and flaws, and each with their own tragic tale. Each of the women represents just one aspect of Hoffman's perfect woman; the leading lady in the opera that night, Stella.
Hoffman relives his tragic love stories, and his most vulnerable moments, eventually returning to the present, where he is deep in sorrow, lacking the will to do anything but sleep.
Show Information
- Music
- Jacques Offenbach
- Libretto
- Jules Barbier , Michel Carré
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Stories by E. T. A Hoffmann
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1881
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy, Romance, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Spectacle, Period
- Time & Place
- Early 19th century, Germany, Italy, Luther's Tavern
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Optional
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Thirty years before the premiere performance of Offenbach's opera, Jules Barbier and Michel Carre produced play entitled Les Contes Fantastique d’Hoffmann at the Odeon Theater, Paris. The play was based on the life and stories of E. T. A Hoffman, a somewhat eccentric novelist and music lover. This play was to become the basic framework for Offenbach's opera.
Despite working hard to ensure the piece was finished before he succumbed to his failing health, Offenbach sadly died before the
to read the context for Les contes d'Hoffmann and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
In a German town, the poet Hoffmann is in Luther’s tavern. He is in love with a famous opera singer, Stella. Lindorf, a rich counselor, is also in love with her, and attempts to ruin Hoffmann’s chances. Lindorf steals a note that Stella has written to Hoffmann, confident that he will win her over (Dans les rôles d'amoureux langoureux). As he enters with a group a students, Hoffmann sings about a disfigured dwarf named Kleinzach ([Il était une fois à la cour
to read the plot for Les contes d'Hoffmann and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano |
Songs
- Prelude
Prologue
- No. 1 Introduction 'Glou! Glou! Glou!' - Chorus
- No. 2 Recitative 'Le conseiller Lindorf' - Lindorf, Andres
- No. 3 Couplets 'Dans les rôles d’amoureux' Lindorf
- No. 4 Scene 'Deux heures devant moi' - Lindorf, Luther,
- No. 5 Chorus 'Drig! Drig! Drig!' - Chorus, Nathanael, Hermann, Luther, Lindorf, Nicklausse, Hoffmann
- No. 6 Chanson et Scene 'Il était une fois à la cour d’Eisenach!' - Hoffmann, Nathanaël, Chorus
- No. 7 Finale 'Peuh! cette bière est détestable!' - Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Lindorf, Luther, Chorus
Act One
- Entr’acte
- No. 8 Recitative and Scene 'La! dors en paix' - Spalanzani, Hoffmann, Cochenille
- No. 9 Recitative and Romance 'Allons! courage et confiance' - Hoffmann
- No. 10 Scene and Couplets 'Par Dieu! J'etais bien sur de te trouver ici!' - Nicklausse, Hoffmann
- No. 11 Scene 'C'est moi, Coppelius!' - Coppelius, Nicklausse
- Chanson 'J'ais des yeux, devrais des yeux' - Coppelius
- Scene 'Dis-tu vrai? Donne!' - Hoffmann, Coppelius, Spalanzani
- No. 12 Chorus, Scene 'Non, aucun hôte vraiment' - Chorus, Spalanzani, Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Cochenille, Olympia
- Couplets The Doll Song 'Les oiseaux dans la charmille' - Olympia, Chorus
- Scene 'Ah! mon ami! quel accent!' - Hoffmann, Nicklausse, Spalanzani, Chorus, Olympia
- No. 13 Romance 'Ils se sont éloigués enfin!' - Hoffmann, Olympia
- No. 14 Scene 'Tu me fuis?' - Nicklausse, Hoffman, Coppelius
- No. 15 Finale 'Voici les valseurs!' - Olympia, Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Spalanzani, Cochenille, Coppélius, Chorus
Act Two
- Entr’acte
- No. 16 Barcarolle 'Belle nuit ô nuit d’amour' - Giulietta, Nicklausse, Chorus
- No. 17 Recitative 'Et moi, cen'est pas la, pardieu!' - Hoffman
- Couplets Bachiques 'Amis, l'amour tendre et reveur, Erreur!' - Hoffmann, Chorus
- No. 18 Scene 'Je vois qu'on est en fete' - Schlemil, Guilietta, Pittichinaccio, Hoffmann, Chorus, Nicklausse, Dapertutto
- No. 19 Aria 'Scintille, diamant' - Dapertutto
- No. 20 Scene 'Cher ange!' - Dapertutto, Giulietta
- No. 21 Duet 'Malheureux, tu ne comprends donc pas' - Giulietta, Hoffmann
- No. 22 Scene 'Schlemil!' - Giulietta, Schlemil, Hoffmann, Dapertutto, Pitichinaccio, Nicklausse
- No. 23 Septet 'Helas mon coeur s'egare encore' - Hoffmann, Dapertutto, Giulietta, Pitichinaccio, Schlemil, Nicklausse, Chorus
- No. 24 Finale 'Ecoutex, messieurs' - Giulietta, Chorus, Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Chlemil, Dapertutto, Pittichinaccio
Act Three
- Entr'acte
- No. 25 Romance 'Elle a fui, la tourterelle' - Antonia
- No. 26 Scene 'Malheureuse enfant' - Crespel, Antonia, Frantz,
- No. 27 Couplets 'Jour et nuìt je me mets en quatre' - Frantz
- No. 28 Scene 'Frantz! C'est ici!' - Hoffmann, Frantz
- No. 29 Duet 'C’est une chanson d’amour' - Antonia, Hoffmann
- No. 30 Scene 'Qu'as-tu donc?' - Hoffmann, Antonia, Crespel, Miracle
- No. 31 Trio 'Pour conjurer le danger' - Hoffmann, Miracle, Crespel, Antonia
- No. 32 Scene 'Ne, plus chanter!' - Hoffmann, Antonia
- No. 33 Scene and Trio 'Tu ne chanteras plus?' - Antonia, Une Voix, Miracle
- No. 34 Finale 'Mon enfant! ma fille!' - Antonia, Nicklausse, Hoffmann, Miracle, Crespel
- Intermezzo
Epilogue
- Entr’acte
- No. 35 Epilogue 'Voila quelle gut l'histoire' - Hoffmann, Luther, Lindorf, Natanael, Nicklausse, Chorus
- Chorus 'Allumons le punch' -Hoffmann, Nathanael, Hermann, Wilhem, Stella Chorus
- Finale 'Jusqu’au matin remplis' - Chorus
Alternate Ending
- Scene 'Et moi?' - The Muse/Nicklausse
- Romance 'O Dieu de quelle ivresse' - Hoffmann, Stella
- Finale 'Non, ivre mort.' - Nicklausse, Chorus
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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