Opera Synopsis—

The Tales of Hoffmann

by Jacques Offenbach

Time: The Early 19th Century
Place: Nüremberg, Paris, Venice, Munich

Prologue

In Luther’s beer cellar in Nuremberg, the students await the end of a performance of Don Giovanni staring the famous diva, Stella. Stella is the current love of Hoffmann, but is also being pursued by the sinister Councilor Lindorf (later revealed as the embodiment of Hoffmann’s nemesis). To pass the time, Hoffmann offers to tell the story of his three great loves. In each affair he was aided by his young friend Nicklausse (later revealed as the embodiment of the Muse of Poetry).

Act I

In Paris, Hoffmann is sold a magical pair of spectacles by Coppélius and falls in love with Olympia, the “daughter” of the inventor Spalanzani. It is later discovered that she is but a mechanical doll, which Coppélius destroys when he finds out that Spalanzani has swindled him.

Act II

In Venice, Hoffmann is deeply in love with the courtesan Giulietta, who, at the urging of the magician Dappertutto, steals his reflection (soul). Schlemil, her former lover enraged by jealousy, is slain by Hoffmann in a duel. Hoffmann must flee for his life as he watches Giulietta sail away with another admirer.

Act III

In Munich, Hoffmann has fallen in love with the singer Antonia. Her father, Crespel, has forbidden her to sing, but has neglected to tell her the true reason – she is consumptive and therefore as vulnerable as her mother, a famous singer who died of the same disease. The evil quack Dr. Miracle brings to life the portrait of her mother and urges her to sing even more ecstatically. The strain is too much and she dies in Hoffmann’s arms.

Epilogue

Back in the beer cellar, someone points out that the three women are all aspects of Stella. When Stella arrives to meet Hoffmann, the poet is totally drunk, so it is a triumphant Lindorf who escorts her away. Nicklausse, as Hoffmann’s muse, urges him to turn to his only true love – poetry.