Jacques Offenbach
Les Contes d’Hoffmann
Conductor: James Levine
Production: Bartlett Sher
Cast: Kathleen Kim, Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova, Kate Lindsey, Joseph Calleja, Alan Held
Libretto by Jules Barbier, based on the play by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré (based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann)
World premiere: Paris, Opéra Comique, February 10, 1881
Prologue
Luther’s tavern in a German city, early 19th century. The poet Hoffmann is in love with Stella, the star singer of the opera. Lindorf, a rich counselor, also loves her and has intercepted a note she has written to Hoffmann. He is confident to win her for himself (“Dans les rôles d’amoureux langoureux”). Entering with a group of students, Hoffmann sings a ballad about a disfigured dwarf named Kleinzach (“Il était une fois à la cour d’Eisenach”). During the song, his mind wanders to recollections of a beautiful woman. When Hoffmann recognizes Lindorf as his rival, the two men trade insults. Hoffmann’s Muse, who has assumed the guise of his friend Nicklausse, interrupts, but the encounter leaves the poet with a sense of impending disaster. He begins to tell the stories of his three past loves…
Act I
The eccentric inventor Spalanzani has created a mechanical doll named Olympia. Hoffmann, who thinks she is Spalanzani’s daughter, has fallen in love with her. Spalanzani’s former partner Coppélius sells Hoffmann a pair of magic glasses through which he alone perceives Olympia as human (“Je me nomme Coppélius”). When Coppélius demands his share in the profits the two inventors expect to make from the doll, Spalanzani gives him a worthless check. Guests arrive and Olympia captivates the crowd with the performance of a dazzling aria (“Les oiseaux dans la charmille”), which is interrupted several times in order for the doll’s mechanism to be recharged. Oblivious to this while watching her through his glasses, Hoffmann is enchanted. He declares his love and the two dance. Olympia whirls faster and faster as her mechanism spins out of control, until Hoffmann falls and breaks his glasses. Coppélius, having discovered that the check was worthless, returns in a fury. He grabs Olympia and tears her apart as the guests mock Hoffmann for falling in love with a machine.
Act II
Antonia sings a plaintive love song filled with memories of her dead mother, a famous singer (“Elle a fui, la tourterelle”). Her father, Crespel, has taken her away in the hopes of ending her affair with Hoffmann and begs her to give up singing: she has inherited her mother’s weak heart, and the effort will endanger her life. Hoffmann arrives and Antonia joins him in singing until she nearly faints (Duet: “C’est une chanson d’amour”). Crespel returns, alarmed by the arrival of the charlatan Dr. Miracle, who had treated Crespel’s wife the day she died. The doctor claims he can cure Antonia but Crespel accuses him of killing his wife and forces him out. Hoffmann, overhearing their conversation, asks Antonia to give up singing and she reluctantly agrees. The moment he has left Miracle reappears, urging Antonia to sing. He conjures up the voice of her mother and claims she wants her daughter to relive the glory of her own fame. Antonia can’t resist. Her singing, accompanied by Miracle frantically playing the violin, becomes more and more feverish until she collapses. Miracle coldly pronounces her dead.
Act III
The Venetian courtesan Giulietta joins Nicklausse in a barcarole (“Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour”). A party is in progress, and Hoffmann mockingly praises the pleasures of the flesh (“Amis, l’amour tendre et rêveur”). When Giulietta introduces him to her current lover, Schlémil, Nicklausse warns the poet against the courtesan’s charms. Hoffmann denies any interest in her. Having overheard them, the sinister Dappertutto produces a large diamond with which he will bribe Giulietta to steal Hoffmann’s reflection for him—just as she already has stolen Schlémil’s shadow (“Scintille, diamant”). As Hoffmann is about to depart, Giulietta seduces him into confessing his love for her (Duet: “O Dieu! de quelle ivresse”). Schlémil returns and accuses Giulietta of having left him for Hoffmann, who realizes with horror that he has lost his reflection (Ensemble: “Hélas! mon cœur s’égare encore!”). Schlémil challenges Hoffmann to a duel and is killed. Hoffmann takes the key to Giulietta’s boudoir from his dead rival but finds the room empty. Returning, he sees her leaving the palace in the arms of the dwarf Pitichinaccio.
Epilogue
Having finished his tales, all Hoffmann wants is to forget. Nicklausse declares that each story describes a different aspect of one woman: Stella. Arriving in the tavern after her performance, the singer finds Hoffmann drunk and leaves with Lindorf. Nicklausse resumes her appearance as the Muse and encourages the poet to find consolation in his creative genius.
Original transmission: December 19, 2009
Distributor:
The Metropolitan Opera
Director:
Bartlett Sher
