LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN
Opéra fantastique en 3 actes, avec prologue et épilogue
Composer: Jacques Offenbach (1819–80), completed by Ernest Guiraud
Libretto: Jules Barbier, after Barbier and Michel Carré’s play Les Contes d’Hoffmann (1851)
First performance: Opéra-Comique, Paris, 10 February 1881
SETTING: Nuremberg, Munich and Venice, 19th century
Septuor : ‘Hélas ! mon cœur s’égare encore’
The Septuor is not genuine Offenbach; it was written by Raoul Gunsbourg (director of the Monte-Carlo Opera) and orchestrated by Ernest Bloch. Nevertheless, it is one of the finest numbers in the score.
Hoffmann, poète / a poet (tenor): Neil Shicoff
Le capitaine Dapertutto (bass-baritone): José Van Dam
Giulietta, courtisane / a courtesan (soprano): Jessye Norman
Nicklausse (mezzo-soprano): Ann Murray
Schlémil, amant de Giulietta / Giulietta’s lover (baritone): Dale Duesing
Pitichinacchio, bouffon de Giulietta / Giulietta’s clown (tenor): Robert Tear
Conductor: Sylvain Cambreling
Chorus & Orchestra of the Opéra National du Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie
Brussels, 1988
