12 September 2024
Newsdesk
Award-winning director Damiano Michieletto directs a stellar cast in a new production of Offenbach’s dream-like opera The Tales of Hoffmann which runs on the Main Stage 7 November – 1 December 2024. Juan Diego Flórez and Leonardo Caimi share the role of poet E.T.A Hoffmann with Ermonela Jaho, Olga Pudova and Marina Costa-Jackson singing the poet’s trio of lovers. Alex Esposito sings the Four Villains and Julie Boulianne is Nicklausse. Pudova and Costa-Jackson both make their debuts with The Royal Opera.
Damiano Michieletto, Director of The Tales of Hoffmann, said:
‘I imagined Les Contes d’Hoffmann as a journey through time, a look into the different ages of the protagonist: the child, the boy, the already disillusioned young man, all represented by the female protagonists Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta. Stella will end the story by destroying Hoffmann’s illusions, somehow as if she was the devil herself. He will thus find himself alone, with all the symbols of his fantasy past world, all representing his poetic universe.’
Michieletto reunites with conductor Antonello Manacorda with whom he collaborated on The Royal Opera’s recent new production of Carmen (2024). The director’s career has seen him work with the world’s leading opera houses, including Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Teatro Real de Madrid, Oper Frankfurt, Paris Opera and Glyndebourne. His production of Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci for The Royal Opera won an Olivier Award in 2015.
The rest of the cast is comprised of Christopher Mortagne (Andrès/Cochenille/Frantz/Pitichinaccio); Vincent Ordonneau (Spalanzani); Alastair Miles (Crespel); Christine Rice (Muse of Poetry/Spirit of Antonia’s Mother); Jeremy White (Luther); and Jette Parker Artists Grisha Martirosyan (Hermann/Schlemil); and Ryan Vaughan Davies (Nathanael).
The creative team also includes set designer Paolo Fantin, costume designer Carla Teti, lighting designer Alessandro Carletti and choreographer Chiara Vecchi. Cast and creatives come together for an Insights event on 21 October where they discuss their interpretation of Offenbach’s opera.
Cinema audiences can experience the imaginative and colourful staging on 15 January 2025 with an Encore performance on 19 January 2025.
