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Offenbach’s
Les Contes d’Hoffmann
REVIVAL
Live: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 10:00 a.m.
Encore: Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 3:00 p.m.
There will be a pre-opera talk led by Russell Fox one hour before the LIVE performance on Saturday.
Marco Armiliato (Conductor), Erin Morley (Olympia), Pretty Yende (Antonia/Stella), Clémentine Margaine (Giulietta), Vasilisa Berzhanskaya (Nicklausse/Muse), Benjamin Bernheim (Hoffmann), Aaron Blake (Four Servants), Christian Van Horn (Four Villains)
Offenbach’s fantastical opera kicks off the Metropolitan Opera’s season of Live in HD performance transmissions, starring French tenor Benjamin Bernheim in the title role of the tormented poet. Joining Bernheim is American soprano Erin Morley as Olympia, South African soprano Pretty Yende as Antonia, and French mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as Giulietta to complete Hoffmann’s trio of lovers. Marco Armiliato conducts Bartlett Sher’s evocative production, which also features American bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as the Four Villains and Russian mezzo-soprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya in her company debut as Nicklausse.
PROLOGUE
In a tavern, the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann, unhappily in love with the celebrated singer Stella, tells the stories of his three past loves.
ACT I
The inventor Spalanzani has created a mechanical doll named Olympia. Hoffmann, who thinks she is Spalanzani’s daughter, has fallen in love with her. At a ball, Olympia captivates the guests with a dazzling aria and dances with the enchanted Hoffmann. When Spalanzani’s former partner, Coppélius, destroys the doll in a rage, Hoffmann is shocked to realize he has fallen in love with a machine.
ACT II
Antonia, whose mother was a famous singer, has a weak heart and knows that singing will endanger her life. Hoffmann, who loves her, begs her to give it up, but when the charlatan Dr. Miracle conjures up the voice of her mother, Antonia can’t resist — she sings until she falls dead.
ACT III
The sinister Dapertutto bribes the Venetian courtesan Giulietta to steal Hoffmann’s reflection for him. She seduces Hoffmann into confessing his love and leads him on with promises of a rendezvous. After killing Giulietta’s previous lover in a duel, Hoffmann finds her in the arms of another man.
EPILOGUE
Stella arrives in the tavern and, finding Hoffmann drunk, leaves with his rival, the wealthy Lindorf. Hoffmann’s Muse tells the poet to find consolation in his creative genius.
The 2024-2025 Met Live Opera season in Sedona is generously sponsored by Bea Hanks and Chris Fladlien.