Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Seeking to exorcise the failure of his current love affair, the poet Hoffmann tells the tales of his three past loves - the doll-like Olympia, the high-class courtesan Giulietta, and the ambitious but delicate Antonia - and recalls how each was thwarted by the evil influence of his rival. In this production by the distinguished film director, John Schlesinger, with spectacular designs by Maria Bjornson and William Dudley, Offenbach's nightmare world is brought to life. The all-star cast is headed by Placido Domingo as Hoffmann: his three loves are Ileana Cotrubas, Anges Baltsa and Luciana Serra and the manifestations of his rival are sung by Geraint Evans, Robert Lloyd, Siegmund Nimsgern and Nicola Ghiuselev. The score, which includes such favourites as the "Barcarolle" and the "Doll's Song", is conducted by Georges Pretre.
Cast
Plácido Domingo
as Hoffmann
Agnes Baltsa
as Giulietta
Robert Lloyd
as Lindorf
Ileana Cotrubas
as Antonia
Luciana Serra
as Olympia
Geraint Evans
as Coppélius
Nicolai Ghiuselev
as Miracle
Gwynne Howell
as Crespel
Claire Powell
as Nicklaus/Muse
Siegmund Nimsgern
as Dapertutto
