The Tales of Hoffmann online
The Tales of Hoffmann online
One of the most important works by Jacques Offenbach, in the futuristic implementation by Michał Znaniecki and music interpretation by Tomasz Tokarczyk, will be available online on Play Kraków on 9th April at 6.00 p.m. The performance was recorded in 2017
The Tales of Hoffmann is a fantasy opera composed by Offenbach in 1877-1880. The core of the libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré is three short stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann, i.e. The Sandman, Advisor Crespel and New Year's Eve Adventures. The tripartite structure of the libretto is reflected in the presence of three types of women embodying various types of operas - the French bouffe, romantic German and sensual Italian one. The main character is Hoffmann himself who tells the story of his love for Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta.
The music in the work follows the libretto, completing the personality of each of Hoffman's women. The opera house is filled with Mozart cantilenas. The stylistic diversity in the work is emphasized by a barcarolle, an Italian song sung by gondoliers, and the technical virtuosity - by spectacular coloratura, for instance, in well-known "Olympia’s Aria".
The music in the work follows the libretto, completing the personality of each of Hoffman's women. The opera house is filled with Mozart cantilenas. The stylistic diversity in the work is emphasized by a barcarolle, an Italian song sung by gondoliers, and the technical virtuosity - by spectacular coloratura, for instance, in well-known "Olympia’s Aria".
In the circles of pop culture and new technologies
Znaniecki's production, similar as far as the complexity of the musical structure of the work, is characterised by plenty of references to contemporary times and pop culture. The director draws inspiration from the film creations by Stanley Kubrick, the futuristic concept of Black Mirror series or threads regarding love to artificial intelligence from science-fiction thriller Ex Machina directed by Alex Garland. A literal intertextual reference in the work is a quotation of the opera diva from Luc Besson's The Fifth Element.
The stage design created by Luigi Scoglio presents the world of the future, dominated by new technologies. “In the Krakow’s show, we are almost 20 years ahead of our current reality (...). The house of Antonia, the daughter of a great singer, is an interactive multimedia museum. In turn, the world of Olympia, a doll, is a laboratory for the formation of artificial intelligence. A measure just like in Hoffmann's stories, only in our times,” says the director.
The Tales of Hoffmann is another directorial version by the creator well known to Krakow audience of such productions, as Don Giovanni, Eugene Onegin, The Love for Three Oranges and King Roger.
The premiere of the performance took place on 9th June 2017 at the Kraków Opera.
The broadcast of the performance recorded at that time will take place on 9th April (Friday) at 6.00 p.m. on Play Kraków.
Tickets at the price of PLN 10
The stage design created by Luigi Scoglio presents the world of the future, dominated by new technologies. “In the Krakow’s show, we are almost 20 years ahead of our current reality (...). The house of Antonia, the daughter of a great singer, is an interactive multimedia museum. In turn, the world of Olympia, a doll, is a laboratory for the formation of artificial intelligence. A measure just like in Hoffmann's stories, only in our times,” says the director.
The Tales of Hoffmann is another directorial version by the creator well known to Krakow audience of such productions, as Don Giovanni, Eugene Onegin, The Love for Three Oranges and King Roger.
The premiere of the performance took place on 9th June 2017 at the Kraków Opera.
The broadcast of the performance recorded at that time will take place on 9th April (Friday) at 6.00 p.m. on Play Kraków.
Tickets at the price of PLN 10