Product Details

• Actors: Plácido Domingo, Luciana Serra, Agnes Baltsa, Ileana Cotrubas, Claire Powell
• Directors: Brian Large
• Writers: E.T.A. Hoffmann, Jules Barbier, Michel Carré
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: October 14, 2003
• Run Time: 159 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008DDRN
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,276 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #3 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > By Composer > Offenbach, Jacques
  #18 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > By Performer > Domingo, Placido
  #55 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > By Historical Period > Romantic (c.1820-1910)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This is as good a video of the traditional Tales of Hoffmann as we are ever likely to see. It alters the material Offenbach left when he died, but it is the Hoffmann that audiences have loved for decades in a brilliant all-star production. Plácido Domingo is vocally resplendent and theatrically convincing as the poet Hoffmann enduring one amorous disappointment after another. He is supported by a large, expert, international cast, alert to the opera's wit, horror, and pathos.

Particularly outstanding are Luciana Serra, vocally flawless and visually mechanical as the singing robot Olympia; Ileana Cotrubas as Antonia, who sings herself to death; Claire Powell as Hoffmann's partner Niklausse; and all four of the deep-voiced villains. This production departs from Offenbach's evident intentions particularly in the Venetian act, which it places second rather than last and pads out with material Offenbach never included. These additions, however, include some of the best-loved material in the opera. --Joe McLellan

Product Description
Offenbach's extraordinary opera is performed here in this Covent Garden production by Placido Domingo, Luciana Serra, Agnes Baltsa and Ileana Cotrubas. The Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus are conducted by Georges Pretre.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful production--and the only one so far on video, November 3, 1999

By	F. Behrens "Frank Behrens" (Keene, NH USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Offenbach - Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) / Pretre, Domingo, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] (VHS Tape)

There are many "editions" of this opera (Offenbach died before completing the score)and this tape offers the standard one. That is it does not use the spoken dialogue or any of the "lost" material now being included in many recordings. More damagingly to the shape of the plot, it does not show the Muse at all at the start of the Prologue, no less her transformation into Nicklausse. For better or worse, it does use four bass baritones as the four villains and four women as the four loves (even Sills could not manage all four when she tried). As one critic points out, the only Frenchman is in the pit conducting; and the French pronunciation of the cast is variable. Although the supernatural elements are not ignored in this staging, they are far less emphasized than in other productions, especially the film version with the English-language soundtrack. Domingo is in good voice and manages to create a believable title character. Claire Powell is an attractive Nicklausse with a gorgeous mezzo. Either by choice or direction, she is a concerned and often angry companion to her poetical friend. Baltsa does one sharp reaction turn too many as the Venetian siren; while Cortrubas looks properly at death's door. The men, given the more flamboyant roles make more of a dramatic impression. And the coloratura of Serra's doll is right on the mark. So all in all, this is a terrific bargain and certainly far superior to the older edition that was on two tapes and had no subtitles! By the way, the subtitles here are not too well managed. Many lines are not translated at all and many are shown well after the words have been sung. Still this is a quibble, given the value of the production as a whole. Well worth the 5 stars. And be careful about a video title "Des Contes d'Hoffmann." It is a desconstruction of the opera and might not please one who thinks he is buying the genuine article!

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exelent production, July 19, 2004

By	Ted Zoldan (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This is probably the best Hoffman on Video. Domingo is at his peak here, the best Hoffman I've ever heard singing the best I've heard him sing the role. Particularily good are the Ballad of Klinzach and "Amis! L'amour tendre", which is acted excellently by Domingo and features some really great buisness from Anges Balsta, Domingo and the chorus.

The conducting of Pretre is speedy, and most of the time it works, but, in some places (like the Baracolle, sung beautifully) it seems the singes can hardly keep up.

The production values are nothing short of increadable. the late John Schliesinger shows himself to be a capable operatic director, with several nice touches to the production, such as Lindorf appearing at the end of each act, mocking Hoffman and laughing. I would have prefered to see the roles acted by one man, but the seperate apperances of Lindorf do just as well. The begining of the Venice act is very impressive, with the gondolas floating ominously and the writhing orgy taking place on the banks of the cannal. The designs of Maria Bjornson and Willum Dudley utilize the three-story stage excellently, and give each setting a different feel: The tavern a place of grity reality, Paris a zany Victorian invetors lab, Venice a C.B. DeMille nightmare, and Munic the feeling of a derilict, clostrophobic mansion from hell.

The singing, other than Domingo is almost uniformally good. Luciana Serra, as Olympia is fine acting-wise and her voice is pleasent enough, but I don't like her phrasing. Balsta's Guiletta is increadeble, a real stand out. She looks terrific, too. Ileana Cortubas' Antonia sings well enough, but could act the part better. Still, you warm up to her eventually, and she is very good in the final trio.

As the Villians, Robert Llyod (asways reliable) is a memerable Lindorf, though he speaks rather than sings Stella's letter and takes his aria much to fast. Sir Geraint Evans is amazing as Coppelius, both zany and extreamly creepy. Seigmund Nimsgern is extreamly hypotic as Dappertutto, and gives the best vocal performance out of the four villians. Nicolai Ghiuselev's Miracle is the production's biggest letdown, as he is overpowered in his two trios easily and acts rather woodenly.

Claire Powell is an excellent and masculine Nicklausse, and makes a ravishing transformation into the muse, where her sdialouge is not as good. In smaller roles, Robert Tear is a memerable Spalanzani and Gwynne Howell is an excellent and touching Crespel. Bernard Dikerson is very funny as Frantz, giving the best acting performance (if not vocal) of "Jour et Nuite" I've heard yet. Paul Crook is execellent as Conchinelle, but not as Andres. Chorus and Orchestral work are both excellent.

This is a production I would highly recomend under any circumstances.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST; A Great Production, March 8, 2003

By	Mark Bixler (Glen Ellen, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've owned the LaserDisc of this 1981 performance for many years. I've tranferred it to DVD so I could view it conveniently in a DVD changer because I'd lost hope it would ever appear commercially on DVD. The production is brilliant with great "Victorian" touches (in terms of the time period they seem to come from) in Act II; the mechanical "contraptions" are wonderful. The production is fantastic, as it should be, yet seems rooted in the late 1800's. It is also a rich, sensual Royal Opera production. Young Domingo and Baltsa are at their best. Regarding the other DVDs of the opera: Much as one can vaguely admire the Opera de Lyon "Some Tales from Hoffman", striving to be different (and very stark) destroys the opera for me. The 1978 Paris Opera production is OK if rather provincial looking (very simple sets). The 1970 Komische Oper Berlin production is actually quite good and lively, but it's sung in German. Even if the musical performances in the Royal Opera production were only OK it would be the winner, but the performances are excellent. Anyone who thinks they have even a little interest in French opera should buy this.