Tales of Hoffmann, The

Opera by JACQUES OFFENBACH, 1881, based on stories of the German fabulist E.T.A. Hoffmann, premiered in Paris.

Hoffmann himself is the focus of the opera, telling the stories of his three great loves: a lithe mechanical puppet, a blithe Venetian courtesan, and a tubercular German maiden. In an ideal production not only does Hoffmann appear in all three acts (plus prologue and epilogue), but the characters representing the forces of evil, the servant, and in some productions the three beloveds are each acted by one singer.

Offenbach died before completing the ORCHESTRATION for the score, which was finished by French composer ERNEST GUIRARD for its posthumous premiere. The second act contains the famous Barcarolle.