The Tales of Hoffmann

Hoffmann is tipsy and in the mood for storytelling. He’ll tell you of his four great loves: a wind-up doll, an innocent singer, a cruel courtesan … and the woman who combines them all. But who is his mysterious muse? And the evil shadow that dogs his every move?

This is The Tales of Hoffmann: Offenbach’s last and greatest work. It’s an intoxicating mix of emotion and dazzling music, including the famous, fiendishly difficult Doll Song.

Soprano Jessica Pratt returns to Australia to sing all the female leads. It’s a rare soprano who can sing these roles and bring you deep into Offenbach’s emotional world. Pratt follows in the footsteps of Joan Sutherland and a handful of other stars who can pull it off.

“Pratt… (sings) all the female roles… with dramatic truth and with a vocal mastery worthy of the greatest” (ConcertoNet).

Iván Ayón Rivas sings the title character and Marko Mimica sings the four villains.

Celebrated director Damiano Michieletto (Il Viaggio a Reims) creates a brand new production of this beloved opera. Elaborate sets depicting Hoffmann’s three worlds are designed and built by our team in Australia before travelling to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Andrea Battistoni conducts.

A CO-PRODUCTION BETWEEN OPERA AUSTRALIA, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE COVENT GARDEN, OPERA NATIONAL DE LYON AND FONDAZIONE TEATRO LA FENICE DI VENEZIA.