BREAKING NEWS - Anna Netrebko cancels the Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" in Berlin and Munich

Anna Netrebko has just cancelled the two Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" concerts which were scheduled to be held at the Philharmonie, Berlin 21. April 2011 and Philharmonie am Gasteig, München 23. Apr 2011.

Miss Netrebko's manager has announced that she has a common cold and, under the advice of her doctor, an urgent need for a week's pause.

Tickets for the concert of Anna Netrebko and Kate Lindsey in Geneva 28. April 2011

Celeste Prouctions is the company co-producing the concert of Anna Netrebko and Kate Lindsey in Geneva on 28. April 2011. They co-produce as well the concerts in Paris on 26. April 2011 and Toulouse on 2. May 2011.

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, Salle Pleyel, Paris 26. Apr 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Kate Lindsey (Mezzo-soprano); English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Watkins

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, Victoria Hall, Genève 28. April 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Kate Lindsey (Mezzo-soprano); English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Watkins

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater and other works, Théâtre du Capitole, Halle aux Grains, Toulouse 2. May 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Soprano), Kate Lindsey (Mezzo-soprano); English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Watkins

Tickets for the concert in Geneva on 28. April 2011 can be bought at the ticket office, City of Geneva: 0800 418 418 (Switzerland), +41 022 418 36 18 (other countries), at the FNAC stores or online at the FNAC website.

Poster of the concert in Genève. Photo: Violeta

Victoria Hall, Genève. Photo: Violeta

Victoria Hall, Genève. Photo: Violeta

Victoria Hall, Genève. Photo: Violeta

Les Contes d'Hoffmann premieres at Great Performances at the Met on 24. Mar 2010

The performance of Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann held at the Met on 19. December 2009 premieres on Thirteen’s "Great Performances at the Met" series on Wednesday 24. March 2010 at 9 PM ET.

Starting 25. March 2010, Les Contes d'Hoffmann will be available in HD on the Met Player.

Joseph Calleja sings the title role and is joined on stage by Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse and The Muse, Anna Netrebko as Antonia and Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta and Alan Held as the Four Villains. James Levine conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Bartlett Sher is the stage director.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 19. Dec 2009

On 19. December 2009 it was the fifth performance of the run of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

The performance on 19. Dec 2009 has been transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. It has been also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network.

It will be broadcast on Great Performances at the Met on PBS on Wednesday 24. March 2010.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 19. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Upcoming Live Broadcasts
The performances on 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. Furthermore the performance on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Reports
Our friend Howard and his wife Paula attended this performance live at the Met. Howard kindly wrote the followind detailed report for the blog:

My wife Paula and I attended the "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" performance at the MET on 19-December which was also simulcast around the world as a live broadcast. As snow was encroaching on New York City, the crowds came out to see the Tales of Hoffmann.

I totally agree with Irina, that there is truly nothing like a live performance, although this spectacle deserves a second review with the encore HD performance in January. Although there were some vacant seats due the inclement weather it was clear that Netrebko has her devoted following. The gift shop was playing a DVD of her Berlin Concert with Villazon and Domingo and copies were literally flying off the shelves. One woman flew in from Dallas just for this performance. The MET intentionally sanitized this production leaving out the partial nudity (G strings and pasties) reviewed by Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times.

There was a rousing ovation for James Levine who recently returned from back surgery for a ruptured disc. He has the uncanny ability to allow the orchestra to support, but not overpower the singers. Bartlet Sher the director pretty much took a static opera with no dimension of time or change of venue. and made a spectacle of the opera. While there were some incongruities, it pretty much came off rather well and was very well received.

Olympia, the mechanical doll played by Kathleen Kim was adorable, cute and sang with coloratura ease. She danced and walked like a mechanized doll as the voice lifted just like a young adolescent nymph. This was not the role for Netrebko. Although other productions have had wind up keys built into the costume, this rendition was just adorable. Ekaterina Gubanova as Giuletta was stiff and uninspiring. The part of Nicklausse sung by Kate Lindsay was just average, as her voice and expression appear not ready for prime time. Alan Held had a commanding presence as Dr. Miracle and sang with convincing authority.

The clear winners of the afternoon were Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann and Anna Netrebko as Antonia. Calleja displayed confidence, presence and endurance. His voice has an unusual tenderness and affection that is reminiscent of Jussi Bjorling. Calleja had strength, the ability to project and literally sang the entire opera without much rest. His tenderness in recounting his lost loves came across with passion and conviction. This is an enormous role early in his career and it was clear that he was up to the task.

Although Anna Netrebko's role as Antonia in the 2nd act was limited, she ruled the stage with passion, illumination and exquisite acting ability. One only has to think of her Salzburg Traviata for an analogy. Her deep Slavic tone and elegant poise was well suited to this role. She truly commanded the stage and all around her. Her duets with Hoffman were poignant, elegant and dramatic. She had the ability the sing along with his commanding presence. She was dressed in a beautiful nightgown that highlighted her style, grace and sumptuous figure. It is evident that she has lost much weight after her pregnancy, but her voice and timbre have become richer, more colored and exquisite. There were time when you could pick out her voice on top of the chorus. She has not lost her high register at all and there were some hints of exquisite trills in her singing. In short, this role was made for her, a sumptuous, melancholy lover with a great sense of pathos and drama.

At intermission, I met a gentlemen who was at her MET debut in War and Peace. He said that he heard a lone voice above the chorus that transcended all. He said that he knew then that she was very special as only time would demonstrate. He loved her role here, but was not as enthusiastic about her coloratura capabilities in Lucia last year.

The production did have some weaknesses that seemed to detract from the overall message. In the opening of the third act which simulated an orgy or bordello, the well choreographed dancers with exquisitely flexible bodies were on top of men reminiscent of strippers at a bar. Their modern day costumes seemed out of place from the elegant victorian gowns and long coat worn by Hoffmann. My wife found some of this mildly offensive and inappropriate. If this was the sanitized version, I am sure that other performances had similar responses.

Parts of the opera appeared to make fun of the Jews and were mildly anti-Semitic in nature. While not offensive, it is clear that Bartlet Sher chose to highlight these issues in his interpretation. I found it to be mildly amusing and perhaps this reflects some of Offenbach's beliefs.

Some general thoughts are in order. Having attended opera and concerts throughout Europe, I am astounded by the lack of decorum of many participants in the audience. On a Saturday afternoon where tickets are rather expensive, I am shocked by people dressed in dungarees and sweatshirts. My opinion is that the audience should be respectful to others in the audience as well as the performers. People sitting next to me in the opera talked throughout the opera and you could hear the incessant vibration of cell phone and occasional audible ones that were extremely bothersome. As Hoffmann was singing his heart out in the 3rd act, a cell phone went off at the most inopportune time. I realize that times are much more casual than in the past, but a modicum of decorum, appropriate dress and behavior is a rather low bar for such an exquisite art form.

In closing our trip to NYC was well worth the effort. Netrebko was enchanting, ravishing and skilled in her abilities. Our trip home was delayed by snow and ice, but fortunately we had a young female bus driver that was safety conscious, courteous and skilled in her driving abilities. She had to stop 4-5 times to clear ice from the wipers. Fortunately she beat the storm as she traveled North to Boston.

Looking forward to Boheme later this spring as well as Carmen with Garanca.

On-line Press Reports
Channeling Fellini - The Wall Street Journal, 22. Dec 2009 - By Heidi Waleson [English]
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Musical Criticism, 27. Dec 2009 - By David Abrams [English]
`Los cuentos de Hoffmann' una joya del siglo XXI - El Nuevo Herald, 29. Dec 2009 - By Daniel Fernandez [Spanish]

On-line Blog Reports
Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews: Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Metropolitan Opera live relay, December 2009
Can Belto: An even better Hoffman
Maldito Candelabro: "Hoffmann" desde el Met: Sensualidad decadente
CNY Café Momus: The Met’s Contes d’Hoffmann: an engaging journey from id to ego to ear

Videoclips
"Elle a fui, la tourterelle", Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009 - Anna Netrebko


Deborah Voigt interviews Joseph Calleja and Anna Netrebko, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009


Finale, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009


Related Posts
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 7. Dec 2009

On 7. December 2009 it was the second performance of the run of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 7. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Upcoming Live Broadcasts
The performances on 11., 19., 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and the one on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Press Reports
John Yohalem wrote on Opera Today,

Netrebko sang the most powerful Antonia since Sutherland, and in Sher’s vision (which is not Offenbach’s), her grand operatic posturing worked very well.

On-line Press Reports
Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the MET - Opera Today - By John Yohalem

Related Posts
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Today on 3. December 2009 it has been the season premiere of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

Joseph Calleja has made his role debut as Hoffmann. As it was announced in exclusive on this blog on 26. May 2009, Joseph Calleja replaced Rolando Villazón who cancelled his appearance when he announced in April that he needed surgery to remove a cyst on his larynx.

Kathleen Kim has made also her role debut as Olympia, the mechanical doll.

Anna Netrebko made her role debut as Antonia at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg on 11. November 2000 in a performance conducted by Gianandrea Noseda and directed by Marta Domingo. The critic of the St. Petersburg Times wrote that "her captivating performance was the genuine highlight of the production. Her tormented Antonia, suffering over the paths she had to choose, was pierced with despair."

Ekaterina Gubanova has made her role debut as Giulietta. She made her Met debut in 2007 as Hélène Bezukhova in War and Peace.

Kate Lindsey has made also her role debut as Nicklausse/The Muse, replacing Elina Garanca who decided to withdraw and to sing the title role in the upcoming performances of Carmen at the Met, when Angela Gheorghiu withdraw from those performances.

Alan Held made his debut as the four villains at the Met in 1993. He has replaced René Pape who decided not to add the four villains to his repertoire.

A number of first impressions about the performance, collected during the live broadcast, can be read at the comments sections of a post published on Parterre Box.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Season Premiere
Metropolitan Opera House, New York 3. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Live Broadcasts
The premiere on 3. Dec 2009 has been live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79 and via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

The performances on 11., 19., 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and the one on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Press Reports
Anthony Tommasini, talking about Anna Netrebko, wrote on The New York Times,

[...] she was vocally lustrous, charismatic and wrenching as Antonia [...]. She also made a captivating and tart Stella [...]

The review published on Parterre Box says,

[...] Netrebko was rapturous as Antonia, bathing us in her sweet sound, and showing both detail and presence in all parts of her range.

Ronni Reich wrote on the nj.com,

Here, full focus was on soprano Anna Netrebko, and rightfully so. Virtually unmatched in her luscious tone, Netrebko sang as if each phrase were truly her last, surprisingly full-throated, a little wild, and absolutely spellbinding.

On-line Press Reports
An Unamplified Voice: Hoffmann (after), 3. Dec 2009 [English]
Parterre Box: der musensohn, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
My Favorite Intermissions: Jar of Eyeballs, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
Can Belto: Hoffmann opening night: Success!, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
The Old Stories, Updated With G-Strings - The New York Times - By Anthony Tommasini, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
No shortage of tales in this `Hoffmann' at the Met - San Francisco Chronicle - By Ronald Blum, AP, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Theatermania - By David Finkle, 5. Dec 2009 [English]
'Rousing ovation' for Calleja's Hoffmann at New York Met - Times of Malta - 6. Dec 2009 [English]
Good muse at the Met: Netrebko and clever staging lift Offenbach opera - nj.com - By Ronni Reich, 7. Dec 2009 [English]

Audioclips
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Romance: "Elle a fui, la tourterelle!", Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Duet: "C'est une chanson d'amour", Hoffmann, Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Duet: "Ne plus chanter! hélas!", Hoffmann Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Trio Final: "Tu ne chanteras plus?", Antonia, Antonia's Mother Voice, Miracle. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Trio Final, Antonia, Antonia's Mother Voice, Miracle. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Final Scene: "Mon père! Écoutez! c'est ma mère!", Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Epilogue. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Videoclips
In this videoclip uploaded to Youtube by wnycradio, Stage Director Bartlett Sher talks about his interpretation of the opera


Photos
A wonderful collection of photos by Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera is available at the Archives of the Metopera Database.

Here you can get some additional photos, at the curtains calls and at the stage door, kindly provided by the author.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Bartlett Sher and Kate Lindsey at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Alan Held at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Kathleen Kim at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Ekaterina Gubanova at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Joseph Calleja at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Related Press Articles
Swan Song of Offenbach, the Outsider - The New York Times - By Vivien Schweitzer, 25. November 2009 [English]
"We Belong": Previewing the Met's New Production of Hoffman - PlaybillArts - By William Berger, 26 November 2009 [English]
For tenor from Malta, a star-making role? - Examiner - By Mike Silverman, AP, 27. November 2009 [English]
Met Opera's LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN Begins 12/3, Conducted By James Levine and Directed by Bartlett Sher - BroadwayWorld.com, 1. Dec 2009 [English]
Culture Zohn: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Tales of Hoffmann), or, a Four-Way Gets Complicated - The Huffington Post - By Patricia Zohn, 3. Dec 2009 [English]

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Final Dress Rehearsal, Met, New York 30. November 2009

The final dress rehearsal of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the Four Villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse, took place yesterday, on 30. November 2009. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Bartlett Sher.

Three thousand free tickets to the final dress rehearsal were made available through on online drawing on the Met’s website.

The staging, costumes and sets of this new Bartlett Sher's production were gorgeous. Joseph Calleja, who had been fighting a sinus/pharynx infection on the last days, was not feeling well and he sang Hoffmann only in the first act, being replaced by David Pomeroy.

The official season premiere of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" will take place on 3. December 2009 and it will be broadcast live on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79, as well as on the Met free live audio stream. The performance on 19. December 2009 will be broadcast live to select movie theaters around the world within the MET Live in HD Performances Series

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Final Dress Rehearsal
Metropolitan Opera House, New York 30. November 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja, Prologue, Act I/David Pomeroy, Acts II, III, Epilogue
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

Conductor: James Levine
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Blog Reports
What I read and Watched: Les Contes d'Hoffmann at the Met
A Liberal's Libretto: The Dreams of Hoffmann
Parterre Box: Gualtier tells "Tales"

Related Press Articles
Swan Song of Offenbach, the Outsider - The New York Times - By Vivien Schweitzer, 25. November 2009 [English]
"We Belong": Previewing the Met's New Production of Hoffman - PlaybillArts - By William Berger, 26 November 2009 [English]
For tenor from Malta, a star-making role? - Examiner - By Mike Silverman, AP, 27. November 2009 [English]
Met Opera's LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN Begins 12/3, Conducted By James Levine and Directed by Bartlett Sher - BroadwayWorld.com, 1. Dec 2009 [English]
Culture Zohn: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Tales of Hoffmann), or, a Four-Way Gets Complicated - The Huffington Post - By Patricia Zohn, 3. Dec 2009 [English]

Videoclips
In this videoclip uploaded to Youtube by wnycradio, Stage Director Bartlett Sher talks about his interpretation of the opera

The Met will offer free tickets for the Dress Rehearsal of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" on 30. Nov 2009

The Metropolitan Opera of New York will offer 3000 free tickets, limited to 2 per person, to the final dress rehearsal of the Bartlett Sher's production of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" on 30. November 2009, starring Anna Netrebko, Joseph Calleja, Alan Held, Kate Lindsey, Kathleem Kim and Ekaterina Gubanova.

Press Reports
Free Tickets for Dress Rehearsals at the Met - Arts Beat 2. Sep 2009 [English]

Cast changes in Les Contes d'Hoffmann at the Met

Bass René Pape has withdrawn from the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” opening on 3. December. Pape has decided not to add the four villains to his repertory, the company said Tuesday. Alan Held will now sing the roles of Lindorf, Coppelius, Dappertutto and Dr. Miracle.

As it was announced in exclusive on this blog on 26. May 2009, tenor Joseph Calleja will replace Rolando Villazón as Hoffmann, who canceled his appearance when he announced in April that he needed surgery to remove a cyst on his larynx.

The production, conducted by James Levine and John Keenan (23., 26. and 30. December 2009), includes Anna Netrebko as Antonia and Elina Garanca and Kate Lindsey (26., 30. December 2009 and 2. January 2010) as Nicklausse.

The Dec. 19 performance will be simulcast in HD to theaters around the world.

Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season

Cast changes in Les Contes d'Hoffmann at the Met

There are some changes in the cast of the new Met's production of Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann scheduled for December 3, 2009 through January 2, 2010 at the Met.

Rolando Villazón has withdrawn from the title role in all the performances scheduled. He announced yesterday that he is undergoing throat surgery and expects to return to the stage in 2010. The Metropolitan Opera looks forward to his return in future seasons. A replacement for the role of Hoffmann will be announced at a later date.

Kate Lindsey substitutes Elina Garanca as Nicklausse and the Muse in the last three performances, on 26. and 30. December 2009 and 2. January 2010.

Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season Schedule