Hoffmann's Tales

The poet Hoffmann sits in a café, thinking of his beloved Stella, who is currently shining in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the nearby opera house. By his side is his close friend Nicklausse. However, the friend is actually the disguised muse, and she has only one goal: to divert Hoffmann from his unhappy love and bring him back to the noble art. Inspired by the atmosphere in the café and irritated by the presence of his romantic rival Lindorf, memories begin to stir in Hoffmann's mind. Memories of three women he once loved, who were supposedly taken from him by evil forces: Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta. The poet begins to do what is his calling: to tell a story!

In Lotte de Beer's production, for which Peter te Nuyl has created a new text version, the muse engages in a dialogue with Hoffmann, taking him on a journey, confronting him with himself and his own artistic soul. A dialogue unfolds between the two, a confrontation between art and artist.

Co-production with the Opéra National du Rhin, the Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique, and the Opéra de Reims.