The (Surrealist) Tales of Hoffmann

By Fernando Remiro, 20 May 2014

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Reviewed at Teatro Real: Sala Principal, Madrid on 17 May 2014

Offenbach, Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann)

Teatro Real

Sylvain Cambreling, Conductor

Christoph Marthaler, Director

Anna Viebrock, Set Designer

Measha Brueggergosman, Antonia, Giulietta

Ana Durlovski, Olympia

Eric Cutler, Hoffmann

Vito Priante, Lindorf

Anne Sofie von Otter, The Muse

Christoph Homberger, Frantz

Gerardo López, Nathanaël

Graham Valentine, Pitichinaccio

Tomeu Bibiloni, Hermann

Jean-Philippe Lafont, Crespel

Lani Poulson, Mezzo-soprano

Deborah Warner attains her theatrical dream at the Teatro Real

Juan José Freijo, 12th March

Warner once again displays her unquestionable talent onstage and her affinity with Benjamin Britten, although, on this occasion, the musical aspect are not equally satisfactory.

***11

Illuminating history-makers: Nixon in China lands in Madrid

David Karlin, 17th April

John Adams’ opera about Richard Nixon’s historic meeting with Mao Tse-Tung is performed with all round excellence, with a real find on the podium in the shape of Olivia Lee-Gunderman.

****1

The martyrs and the oppressed: Peter Grimes at Teatro Real Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 19th April

The new production of Peter Grimes stands out as the strongest item in Teatro Real's season, with magnificent staging by Deborah Warner and superb musical direction by Ivor Bolton, with outstanding vocal and dramatic performances.

*****

Reality as a staging concept: La traviata at Teatro Real, Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 22nd July

In this historic reopening, Lisette Oropesa offers a magnificent performance, dramatically overwhelming and vocally very unique.

****1

La Veronal heads Into the Little Hill in Madrid

John Marten Barnard, 15th February

The Teatros del Canal host the Benjamin–Crimp partnership’s thrillingly dark, lyric retelling of Robert Browning’s famous 1842 poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin by La Veronal dance company.

*****

A disappointing new Falstaff from Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real

Fernando Remiro, 25th April

Comedy fails to spark in Laurent Pelly's new production of Falstaff at the Teatro Real.

**111

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Fernando Remiro

Fernando studied history and political science. He is passionate about opera and lied, a devoted fan of Benjamin Britten, and a lover of challenging stage productions. He wrote opera reviews for the Spanish musical magazine Ritmo and tweets about opera at @operatweets.

What Stella had to say: The (Surrealist) Tales of Hoffmann at Teatro Real