2015-03-31 Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Jacques Offenbach),
Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich)

Olympia = Jane Archibald
Giulietta = Brenda Rae
Antonia = Serena Farnocchia
Cochenille, Pitichinaccio, Frantz = Kevin Conners Lindorf, Coppélius, Dapertutto, Miracle =
Christian Van Horn
Nicklausse/Muse = Angela Brower
Stimme aus dem Grab = Qiu Lin Zhang
Hoffmann = Rolando Villazón
Spalanzani = Ulrich Reß
Nathanaël = Dean Power
Hermann = Andrea Borghini
Schlémil = Christian Rieger
Wilhelm = Petr Nekoranec
Crespel = Peter Lobert
Luther = Peter Lobert

Constantin Trinks, conductor
Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper Orchester Bayerisches Staatsorchester

Inszenierung - Richard Jones
Bühne - Giles Cadle
Kostüme- Buki Shiff
Choreographie - Lucy Burge
Licht - Mimi Jordan Sherin
Dramaturgie - Rainer Karlitschek
Chor - Sören Eckhoff
This page was last updated: June 20, 2022
Having seen this opera before with Placido Domingo and Agnes Baltsa as Hoffmann and Giulietta, the video recording from Royal Opera House Covent Garden, I was not overly optimistic. The only part I could really enjoy was the Giulietta act and even Domingo could not make me enjoy the whole opera. The parts with Placido was always the best and with Agnes Baltsa too, it became magic.

Rolando Villazon was the best actor for this role and a good tenor, too. His voice is not as it used to be, they say. In this performance I saw a promise to come back to greatness with some care. Villazon was a great Hoffmann and by his side the true wonder of the evening Angela Brower as Nicklausse. The 3 sopranos was great. Jane Archibald was the most amazing Olympia. Serena Farnocchia was the most wonderful Olympia. Brenda Rae was Giulietta. This time I did not love the Giulietta act more the rest. It was just the most perfect production.