Name: Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Genre: Music
Released: 2020-03-27
Duration: 2 h 45 min
Cast: Rodolphe Briand, Paul Gay, Ermonela Jaho

Best video version of the opera that I've encountered

I found this DVD at a used records store and purchased it, even though I possess earlier CD recordings and performances on DVD of "Les Contes d'Hoffman", not yet having found the ideal version. This is as close as it gets to ideal. Yes, the staging is what the detractors of modern opera productions call "eurotrash." But, in this case, borrowing the term from Pauline Kael's quote regarding movies, it's great trash. Here, the stories of Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta are taking place inside the minds of both Hoffman and La Muse, mostly as dreams and/or nightmares. And the modern setting eliminates the need for La Muse to disguise herself as a young man. Instead, she appears as a woman friend there to rescue Hoffman from his downward spiral.

The mostly youthful singers are all superb, as are the conductor and orchestra. The score most closely matches the edition by musicologist Michael Kaye who has done the best job of reconstructing Offenbach's original intent. There are, however some cuts, most notably the "Sextet with Chorus", which I would have liked to hear this group perform, though I understand from context why it was left out.

Let the sensitive be warned that the stage direction includes depictions of suicide and hard drug use, but that's not a criticism.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

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The music genre features stories showcasing musical performances, music-related documentaries and recordings of live concerts and music festivals.

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Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann

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