Tales of Hoffman live in HD from the Met

We went to the movies last night, and saw Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann live at the Met in HD

I'm really getting hooked on these film versions of Met productions.  It's the next best thing to actually being in the opera house, and in some ways, it's even better.

Here's a peek at part of a dress rehearsal, where Olympia, the wind-up doll sings her famous aria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXKsOeccz8w

Here's part of a review that pretty much sums up what I thought about last night's performance:

The Italian tenor, Vittorio Grigolo, acquitted himself as a charming, vocally lusty Hoffmann, not as tragic as usually portrayed. Erin Morley, the soprano who comes from Utah, made a delightful Olympia. Her perfect coloratura rendition of the aria, with its humorous wind-up needs, always brings the house down. Here it was well deserved.

The talented Russian soprano, Hibla Gerzmava, was Antonia, Hoffmann’s tragic love who literally sings herself to death. This least surrealistic act, seemed to work best in this Sher production.The British mezzo-soprano, Chrtistine Rice, was our courtesan Guilietta, who’s avarice buys the villain Dapertutto, Hoffmann’s reflection, which is the symbol of his soul. Heavy stuff, however the lilting music never allows the audience to sink fully down with Hoffmann as we return to the tavern for the opera’s morose ending. But we meet Hoffmann muse again, and hope he will take his/her advice and channel his passion towards his writing from now on.

As far as I was concerned, it was Kate Lindsey, the young mezzo-soprano from Virginia, the muse/Nicklausse who stole the show. She is the only holdover from the Live-in-HD 2009 performance of Les Contes. A superb-singing actress, who is just coming into her real prime, she was good then. She was great now. Brava!




If you have an opportunity to see one of these film productions, don't hesitate to take it.