Product Overview
Les Contes D'hoffmann 2 DVD Set / Fantastic work in a prologue, three acts and an epilogue Libretto by Jules Barbier / MARCHE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LYRIC CHOIR MARCHE "V. BELLINI" Conductor: Frédéric Chaslin / Choir master: Carlo Morganti / DVD
Format: NTSC
Run time: 159 Minutes
UPC: 8007144334703
- Aspect Ratio : 1.78:1
- MPAA rating : Unrated (Not Rated)
- Package Dimensions : 7.48 x 5.35 x 0.63 inches; 6.59 Ounces
- Director : Fr d ric Chaslin, Frédéric Chaslin
- Media Format : NTSC
- Release date : October 25, 2005
- Actors : Vincenzo la Scola, Sara Allegretta, Ruggero Raimondi, Annalisa Raspagliosi, Desiree Rancatore
- Subtitles: : English, Italian, German, French, Japanese
- Studio : Dynamic
- Number of discs : 2
The Tales of Hoffmann (French: Les contes d'Hoffmann) is an opéra fantastique by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died in October 1880, four months before the premiere.
Offenbach saw a play, Les contes fantastiques d'Hoffmann, written by Barbier and Michel Carré and produced at the Odéon Theatre in Paris in 1851.
After returning from America in 1876, Offenbach learned that Barbier had adapted the play, which Hector Salomon had now set to music at the Opéra. Salomon handed the project to Offenbach. Work proceeded slowly, interrupted by the composition of profitable lighter works. Offenbach had a premonition, like Antonia, the heroine of Act 2, that he would die prior to its completion.
Offenbach continued working on the opera throughout 1880, attending some rehearsals. On 5 October 1880, he died with the manuscript in his hand, just four months before the opening. Shortly before he died, he wrote to Léon Carvalho:
"Hâtez-vous de monter mon opéra. Il ne me reste plus longtemps à vivre et mon seul désir est d'assister à la première."
("Hurry up and stage my opera. I have not much time left, and my only wish is to attend the opening night.")
