Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann [The Tales of Hoffmann] (complete operettas recorded in 2014)

Although posthumous, 'The Tales of Hoffmann' is considered as the masterpiece of Jacques Offenbach's work and mixes love, pain and whim.

The intrigue settles around three stories about a broken love. Told by Hoffmann, narrator and hero, these tales paint a portrait of three feminine figures: Olympia the automaton, Antonia the dying opera singer and Giulietta the courtesan. This triptych allows the development of very different universes, and colour. It's also a declension of the image of woman and of evil. Christoph Marthaler signed this creation for the Teatro Real. This was Gerard Mortier's last commission for this stage: the Swiss director has proven his ease in many different registers. An essential capacity needed for a work as rich and subtle as 'The Tales of Hoffmann'. Music is conducted by Sylvain Cambreling and the cast includes Eric Cutler, Anne Sofie von Otter, Measha Brueggergosman and Jean-Philippe Lafont.

Eric Cutler (Hoffmann), Anne Sofie Von Otter (La Muse/Nicklausse), Vito Priante (Lindorf / Coppélius / Dr Miracle / Dapertutto), Christoph Homberger (Andrès / Cochenille / Frantz / Pitichinaccio), Ana Durlovski (Olympia), Measha Brueggergosman (Antonia / Giulietta), Altea Garrido (Stella), Lani Poulson (La Mère d'Antonia), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Maître Luther / Crespel), Gerardo López (Nathanaël), Graham Valentine (Spalanzani), Tomeu Bibiloni (Hermann), Isaac Galán (Schlemil)

Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Real de Madrid, Sylvain Cambreling (conductor) & Christoph Marthaler (stage director)

Running time - 193 min.

Booklet FR / ENG / ESP, Subtitles FR / ENG / DE / ES

16/9, NTSC, Sound Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1