2007: Tales of Hoffmann

Tales of Hoffmann

This was easily our most ambitious project for many years; Offenbach's opera with full sung dialogue and performed in the original French.

The lead is an extremely demanding role, and for this we engaged Patrick Power, now resident again in NZ.

Pictures on this page were provided by Marjorie McKee, who also co-ordinated publicity for the show.

Dramatis Personae & Principals

Hoffmann              Poet and Storyteller, Tenor              Patrick Power
Lindorf                  Hoffmann's sinister rival, Baritone      Derek Miller
Nicklausse/Muse   Hoffmann's friend, Mezzo                 Louise Wilson
Stella                    Opera diva, Soprano                       Marian Hawke (part)
                                                                              Elise Gutshall (Wanganui)
Luther                  Publican, Baritone                           Lindsay Groves
Hermann              Student lead, Baritone                     Orene Tiai
Nathanael            Student lead, Tenor                         Laurence Walls
Andrés                 Stella's messenger, Tenor                 Kilian O'Callaghan

Olympia               Doll-lover, Col.Soprano                     Karyn Andreassend
Coppelius             Dolls eyes maker, Baritone               Chris Whelan
Spalanzani           Doll inventor, Baritone                      David Skinner
Cochenille            Spalanzani's assistant, Tenor             Edward Carleton-Holmes
                                                          Soprano          Lynley Snelling
Antonia                Ailing lover, Soprano                        Jennifer Little
Miracle                Evil doctor, Baritone                         Derek Miller
Crespel                Antonia's father, Baritone                 Stuart Gordon
Frantz                 Crespel's servant Tenor                    Silvio Famularo
La Voix                Antonia's mother Mezzo                    Gillian Jerome

Giulietta               Courtesan lover, Soprano                  Lynley Snelling
Dapertutto           Giulietta's evil master, Baritone          Chris Berentson
Schlemiel              Rival lover, Baritone                        Orene Tiai
Pitichinaccio         Schlemiel's associate, Tenor              Alex Galvin

	Our show opened with Stella (Marion Hawke) performing an aria (Mi Tradi) from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" This linked well with several references to Don Giovanni in the score.
	The Prologue is set in a tavern owned by Luther (Lindsay Groves)		The Act opens with Lindorf, (Derek Miller) an old enemy of Hoffmann, sneering at his drunkenness
	A group of students arrives in hopes of an entertaining evening		Hoffmann (Patrick  Power) enters, somewhat the worse for drink, and his constant companion Nicklausse (Louise Wilson) tries to cheer him up
Hoffmann agrees to tell three stories about his previous loves ....
	In the first story, Coppelius (Chris Whelan) and Spalanzani (David Skinner) are arguing over the ownership of the doll Olympia		Hoffmann falls in Love with Olympia (Karen Andreassend) but only at the end of the Act does he realise that she is only a mechanical device
	In the next story, Antonia (Jennifer Little) avows  her love for Hoffmann, but she is of fragile health		The Act ends with a visit from the ghost of her mother (La Voix, Gillian Jerome) and she dies in the arms of her father Crespel (Stuart Gordon)
In the third story,  Guilietta (Lynley Snelling)  is persuaded by Dapertutto  (Chris Berentson) to seduce  Hoffmann and steal  his reflection		There is an angry reaction from her boyfriend Schlemiel (Orene Tiai) and the Act ends with his death in a fight.
	In the finale, Nicklausse reveals her true nature as Hoffmann's muse. Hoffmann resolves to follow his real calling, as a poet and story-teller.