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The Tales of Hoffmann

11 - 22 July 2023

An intoxicating, magical mix of emotion and dazzling music as a poet shares the story of his four great loves, featuring the famously difficult ‘Doll Song’.

Pratt… (sings) all the female roles... with dramatic truth and with a vocal mastery worthy of the greatest

ConcertoNet

Four intoxicating parts. One superstar soprano

Hoffmann is tipsy and in the mood for storytelling. He’ll tell you of his four great loves: a wind-up doll, an innocent singer, a cruel courtesan… and the woman who combines them all. But who is his mysterious muse? And the evil shadow that dogs his every move?

This is The Tales of Hoffmann: Offenbach’s last and greatest work. It’s an intoxicating mix of emotion and dazzling music, including the famous, fiendishly difficult Doll Song.

Soprano Jessica Pratt returns to Australia to sing all the female leads. It’s a rare soprano who can sing these roles and bring you deep into Offenbach’s emotional world. Pratt follows in the footsteps of Joan Sutherland and a handful of other stars who can pull it off.

“Pratt… (sings) all the female roles... with dramatic truth and with a vocal mastery worthy of the greatest.” (ConcertoNet)

Iván Ayón Rivas sings the title character and Marko Mimica sings the four villains. Celebrated director Damiano Michieletto (Il Viaggio a Reims) creates a brand new production of this beloved opera. Elaborate sets depicting Hoffmann’s three worlds are designed and built by our team in Australia before travelling to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Guillaume Tourniaire conducts. 

Presented by Opera Australia

Artist Information

CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor Guillaume Tourniaire 
Director Damiano Michieletto
Set Designer Paolo Fantin
Costume Designer Carla Teti
Lighting Designer Alessandro Carletti
Projection Designer Vandal
Choreographer Chiara Vecchi

CAST
Hoffmann 
Iván Ayón Rivas
Olympia/Antonia/Guilietta/Stella Jessica Pratt
Coppelius/Dapertutto/Dr Miracle/Lindorf Marko Mimica
Nicklausse Agnes Sarkis
Antonia's Mother Jennifer Black
Spalanzani Iain Henderson
Crespel David Parkin
Nathanaël Tomas Dalton
Hermann Luke Gabbedy
Frantz/Andres/Conchenille/Pittichinaccio Adam Player 
Schlémil Richard Anderson
The Muse Sian Sharp
Luther Richard Anderson
La Harpe Anthony Mackey

Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra

Trailer

Other information

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