Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann [Box set, Import, Limited Edition]

Jacques Offenbach (Composer), André Cluytens (Conductor), Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire (Orchestra), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Performer), Victoria de los Angeles (Performer), Gianna d'Angelo (Performer), Nicolai Ghiuselev (Performer), George London (Performer), Ernest Blanc (Performer), Jean-Christophe Benoît (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Victoria de los Angeles, Gianna d'Angelo, Nicolai Ghiuselev, George London, et al.
• Orchestra: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
• Conductor: André Cluytens
• Composer: Jacques Offenbach
• Audio CD (May 7, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set, Import, Limited Edition
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002S19
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,717 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #47 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Operettas

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: Prélude Et Introduction

2. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Glou, Glou, Glou...'

3. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Le Conseiller Lindorf, Morbleu!'

4. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.:' Oui, L'On Devient Digne D'Envie'

5. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Deux Heures Devant Moi'

6. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Drig, Drig, Drig'

7. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Vive Dieu, Mes Amis'

8. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Va Pour Kleinzach!'

9. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Peuh! Cette Bière Est Déstestable!'

10. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1.: 'Je Vous Dis, Moi...'

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3.: 'Morbleu!... Au Jeu!': - J. Offenbach

2. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3.:'Scintille, Diamant!' - J. Offenbach

3. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3.: 'Cher Ange!' - J. Offenbach

4. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3.: 'Aujourd'hui, Cependant....'

5. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3.: 'Schlémi!...J'en Étais Sûr!'

6. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3.: 'Hélas! Mon Coeur S'Égare Encore!'

7. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3.: 'Ecoutez, Messieurs!'

8. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 4. Scene 1.: 'Elle A Fui, A Tourterelle!'

9. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 4. Scene 1.: 'Malheureuse Enfant!'

10. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 4. Scene 1.:' Jour Et Nuit Je Me Meats En Quartre'

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though this 1960s-vintage recording has fallen out of fashion in some circles because it uses a corrupt edition of the opera with recitatives, arias, and ensembles not written by Offenbach, it remains highly listenable and boasts the greatest Hoffmann on recordings: Nicolai Gedda. His voice is youthful, focused, and marvelously flexible, able to sing the music with rare precision and authority but with the weight to project dramatic authority. The women in his flashback adventures are luxuriously cast with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf using her innate aloofness as Giulietta and Victoria de Los Angeles her innate radiance as Antonia. Stylistically, conductor André Cluytens is the master, even if he was even more authentic in his 1940s recording with an all-Opera Comique cast, which is worth seeking out on EMI imports. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PERFECT, June 26, 2003

By 

Payam (Iran) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Audio CD)

The best Hoffmann ever!
GEDDA is just perfect. Although I very much like Domingo but his Hoffmanns (Bonygne - Ozawa )are disgrace!!
A baritone Nicklausse may seem odd but when you hear Benoit you don't even think of a mezzo.
The rest of the cast are as good as one would guess and you can not find any Olympia more lovebale than Gianna D'Angelo.
Above all it is unbelievable how Cluytens manages the Orchestra.
The only drawback may be that George London's a little dry-voiced here.
I say again : "JUST PERFECT" .

7 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful singing and fine conducting, October 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Audio CD)

Gedda delivers an awesome performance as Hoffman, and Elizabeth Schwarzkopf truly sings like an angel- her Doll's Song is better than Joan Sutherland's recording. Cluytens conducts very well, and the whole opera sounds great. I really enjoyed this recording. If you don't want to hear the passages that were later added on, then you can always program your CD player to skip them. Enjoy!