Performer: Alfonso Antoniozzi

The new production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann explores the gothic, magical nature of the story, with a solid cast led by Chaslin’s somewhat heavy baton.

Anna Netrebko chews the scenery as Floria Tosca… and there’s a lot of it to get her teeth into in David Livermore’s busy staging in Milan.

One might have hoped for a memorable performance of the work for its absolute première at the Carlo Felice. Instead, this was an experience to quickly forget.