Les Contes d Hoffmann
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PROLOGUE
The poet Hoffmann sits at his desk. The spirits of wine and beer appear and dissolve.
Hoffmann's muse appears and swears that she wants to protect him from the dangers of love. She will transform herself into Nicklausse, a young student who is to accompany Hoffmann. Councillor Lindorf intercepts Andrès, the emissary of the beautiful opera singer Stella, who is performing in Don Giovanni that evening. Lindorf bribes Andrès to leave him a letter from Stella addressed to Hoffmann. The letter is a declaration of love to the poet and also contains the key to her dressing room. The old but powerful Lindorf intends to wrest his lover away from Hoffmann that evening.
The waiters are already preparing the tables in Luther's wine bar. Boisterous students call for wine, insult Luther, drink to Stella and wait impatiently for Hoffmann. Hoffmann appears with Nicklausse. He appears tormented, gloomy, melancholy, but the students urge him to sing the merry song of the dwarf Little Zack. As he sings, his thoughts drift off and he suddenly describes a beautiful woman. The students bring him back to reality. The waiters light the punch on fire.
Hoffmann catches sight of Lindorf and recognizes him as his rival and eternal adversary in happiness and love. The students are gripped by curiosity and want to hear the name of his lover from Hoffmann. There are three, he replies: the girl Olympia, the artist Antonia and the courtesan Giulietta. The students decide not to return to the opera performance, but to smoke their pipes and listen to Hoffmann's stories about his three lovers.
ACT 1: OLYMPIA
The passionate physicist and eccentric inventor Spalanzani has constructed a perfect automaton with such human features that he passes the doll off as his daughter Olympia.
Tonight he will introduce Olympia to society. He is counting on his latest creation to help him recover the 500 ducats he lost when his banker Elias went bankrupt. The first guest arrives early: it is Spalanzani's pupil Hoffmann, who admires Olympia from afar. Hoffmann remains alone with her for a moment, and one look is enough to make him fall in love with Olympia. Nicklausse warns him against falling in love with a doll with enamel eyes. Does he have a premonition? Coppélius enters and introduces himself as Spalanzani's friend.
However, he actually wants to reclaim the eyes he made for Olympia if Spalanzani cannot pay him. Before that, Coppélius tries to talk Hoffmann into his strange inventions - barometers, hygrometers and beautiful eyes. Nicklausse is suspicious, but Hoffmann eagerly acquires a pair of magic glasses through which he sees Olympia as a transfigured dream image. Coppélius demands his share of the profits from Spalanzani, but the latter sends him away with a bad check made out to the bankrupt Elias.
The guests who have arrived marvel at the lovely Olympia, who performs an aria accompanied by Cochenille on the harp. Her exquisite singing is occasionally interrupted by strange mechanical noises, but Hoffmann, dazzled by his magic glasses, listens devotedly. In a tête-à-tête with Olympia, he declares his love for her and believes himself to be in love again. But she withdraws from the first embrace. Nicklausse bursts in and reports alarming rumors about Olympia that are doing the rounds in society. Hoffmann rejects the warning and runs after his lover.
Coppélius swears revenge against Spalanzani, who tried to cheat him with a worthless check. The guests return. Hoffmann dances a waltz with Olympia, who increases her steps to breakneck speed. Hoffmann falls and breaks his magic glasses. Olympia has to be led out. Coppélius is already waiting and smashes the doll. Hoffmann realizes his delusion: he has fallen in love with an automaton.
ACT 2: ANTONIA
A young girl sings a wistful song about her lost love.
Antonia Crespel dreams of becoming as famous a diva as her late mother was. But she doesn't know that she has inherited not only her mother's magnificent voice, but also her mother's fatal illness. To save Antonia's life, her father must keep all excitement and exertion away from her. He forbids her to sing and also any contact with her bridegroom Hoffmann. Crespel instructs the old deaf servant Frantz not to allow anyone in. Frantz likes to be alone, where he sings his anger away.
Hoffmann rushes in, looking for Antonia, who rushes over when she hears his voice. The two declare their love for each other and exchange vows. Hoffmann asks her for a song. She is happy to oblige, but an attack of weakness makes it difficult for her to finish the song. When Crespel returns, Antonia runs away while Hoffmann hides. Frantz calls in Doctor Miracle, the family doctor. Crespel insults the doctor and calls him a murderer who will destroy his daughter, just as he did her mother. Miracle demonstrates his hypnotic powers. Hoffmann realizes that Antonia is in danger: if she sings, she will die.
At his insistence, Antonia reluctantly promises to give up her singing and her dream of fame. Miracle returns and urges Antonia not to sacrifice her talent for bourgeois happiness. At first she resists the temptation, but when Miracle lets the portrait of her mother speak, she can no longer hold back - she has to sing. Spurred on by the demonic doctor, Antonia sings herself to death. Crespel desperately throws himself at Hoffmann, but Nicklausse holds the grief-stricken father back. It is too late: the devil has won again, with the help of his servant Frantz.
ACT 3: GIULIETTA
The beautiful courtesan Giulietta and Nicklausse sing a barcarole to the night of love.
Hoffmann's lovesickness has turned him into a cynic who prefers drinking and gambling to women. Schlémil and Pittichinaccio vie for Giulietta's affections. Nicklausse promises Hoffmann that he will drag him away by force at the first sign of infatuation. Hoffmann scoffs: Only a fool loses his heart to a courtesan. After the two friends leave, Dapertutto appears and swears that Hoffmann will lose his heart - to the enchanting Giulietta. A woman sells her soul for a glittering piece of jewelry, says Dapertutto and entices Giulietta with a diamond.
In order to get him, Giulietta has to promise him that she will give Hoffmann his reflection - just as she turned Schlémil's head to get his shadow. Giulietta uses all her skills to conquer Hoffmann. She is touched by his honesty - for a moment it seems as if she wants to save him. But Hoffmann falls under her spell and offers her not only his reflection, but also his life and soul. Schlémil finds the two of them in intimate togetherness and is gripped by raging jealousy.
Nicklausse tries in vain to persuade Hoffmann to leave. He is distraught at the loss of his reflection, but at the same time feels bound to his beloved.
The gondolas carry Giulietta away. Hoffmann demands the key to her chamber from Schlémil. Dapertutto lends Hoffmann his sword for the duel between the two. Schlémil is mortally wounded. Hoffmann takes the key, but he searches for Giulietta in vain: given the choice, she has chosen love over diamonds.
EPILOGUE
This is how Hoffmann's stories end, the story of his three loves.
When Nicklausse thinks that Stella is the embodiment of his three lovers, Hoffmann attacks his mentor in a drunken rage. By the time Stella arrives, Hoffmann has already drunk himself senseless. Andrès, who is now in Lindorf's service, introduces Stella to the town councillor, who triumphantly leads her to his carriage. The muse returns to her true form. She promises to alleviate Hoffmann's suffering and explains to him that love in life is only an illusion: true love only exists in art. The whole ensemble joins in the finale: "On est grand par l'amour et plus grand par les pleurs." The suffering poet returns to his desk to continue his search in art.
PROLOGUE & ACT 1 - 75 MIN
INTERMISSION - 25 MIN
ACT 2 - 45 MIN
INTERMISSION - 25 MIN
ACT 3 & EPILOGUE - 50 MIN
Program and cast
Hoffmann: John Osborn
Muse/Nicklausse: Alma Neuhaus
Lindorf/Coppélius/Miracel/Dapertutto: Alex Esposito
Andrès/Cochenille/Frantz/Pitichinaccio: Thomas Ebenstein
Olympia: Serena Sáenz
Antonia: Nicole Car
Giulietta: Serena Sáenz
Musical Direction: Bertrand de Billy
Direction: Andrei Serban
Stage and Costumes: Richard Hudson
Choreography: Niky Wolcz
Vienna State Opera
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History
The structure of the opera house was planned by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg, while the inside was designed by interior decorator Eduard van der Nüll. It was also impacted by other major artists such as Moritz von Schwind, who painted the frescoes in the foyer, and the famous "Zauberflöten" (“Magic Flute”) series of frescoes on the veranda. Neither of the architects survived to see the opening of ‘their’ opera house: the sensitive van der Nüll committed suicide, and his friend Sicardsburg died of a stroke soon afterwards.
On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
The popularity of the building grew under the artistic influence of the first directors: Franz von Dingelstedt, Johann Herbeck, Franz Jauner, and Wilhelm Jahn. The Vienna opera experienced its first high point under the direction of Gustav Mahler. He completely transformed the outdated performance system, increased the precision and timing of the performances, and also utilized the experience of other noteworthy artists, such as Alfred Roller, for the formation of new stage aesthetics.
The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played.
On March 12, 1945, the opera house was devastated during a bombing, but on May 1, 1945, the “State Opera in the Volksoper” opened with a performance of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. On October 6, 1945, the hastily restored “Theaters an der Wien” reopened with Beethoven's FIDELIO. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt at a great expense.
The Secretary of State for Public Works, Julius Raab, announced on May 24, 1945, that reconstruction of the Vienna State Opera would begin immediately. Only the main facade, the grand staircase, and the Schwind Foyer had been spared from the bombs. On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a new auditorium and modernized technology. Under the direction of Karl Böhm, Beethoven’s FIDELIO was brilliantly performed, and the opening ceremonies were broadcast by Austrian television. The whole world understood that life was beginning again for this country that had just regained its independence.
Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. It has been under the direction of Dominique Meyer since September 1, 2010.