Opera: Offenbach – Les contes d’Hoffmann – Nov. 4,6,13,19, 2011

Offenbach’s glorious final masterpiece of a poet and his past loves. — Fully Staged Opera co-production with the CONNECTICUT LYRIC OPERA — New Britain, New London, Waterbury, Middletown

Review from the New Britain performance in the New Britain City Journal click here >>>

New Britain Herald Article, click here >>>

Trinity-On-Main – New Britain Fri 11/4/2011, 8 PM- tickets>>>
MHS Arts Center – Middletown Sun 11/6/2011, 3 PM – tickets>>>
Garde Garde – New London Sun 11/13/2011, 5 PM – tickets >>>
Waterbury Palace – Waterbury Sat 11/19/2011, 8 PM – tickets >>>

Presented with English supertitles.

This performance inaugurates 8th season of critically acclaimed, fully staged opera productions, presented at major theaters by the Connecticut Lyric Opera Company and the CT Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.

Jacques Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman takes the real life of German poet, E.T.A. Hoffmann, and makes him the title character of three, fanciful stories of failed love. The result is one of the grandest and most expressive of all 19th-century French operas — achieving a combination of emotional depth and musical brilliance that only the finest opera composers ever equaled.

But who are these gals — a mechanical wind-up doll (Olympia), a ruthless prostitute on a gondola (Giulietta), and a sickly singer who can no longer sing (Antonia). In each scenario, an evil nemesis thwarts Hoffmann’s attempts for a relationship with each woman. The opera is often compared to “Alice in Wonderland” in its bizarreness — inanimate objects coming to life, a mezzo singing a man’s role, etc — but the music is as resplendent and romantic as it gets for not being penned by an Italian!

The star of the production, fresh from a recent triumph at London’s prestigious Covent Garden is tenor Michael Wade Lee (Hoffmann). The extraordinary cast of singers will also include the CLO’s resident Lithuanian soprano Jurate Svedaite, who will sing the roles of Giulietta and Antonia; Romanian bass-baritone Laurentiu Rotaru plans on a field day as the multiple villains, Connecticut’s native Sarah Asmar debuts with the company as Olympia, while the role of Nicklaus will be portrayed by outstanding Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Galina Ivannikova, who is also debuting with the CT Lyric.

Production is co-staged by Chris Ryan and Jayson Ferrandino, with Set Design and Costumes by Katie Jurkiewicz. An original set for opera is built by Phoenix Theater.

Holding everything and everyone together is the orchestral performance by the Connecticut Virtuosi conducted by maestro Adrian Sylveen.

Cast:
Michael Wade Lee (Hoffmann)
Jason Switzer (Lindorf/Copelius/Dapertuto/Miracle)
Galina Ivannikova (Nicklaus)
Sarah Asmar (Olympia)
Jurate Svedaite (Giulietta/Antonia)
Steven Fredericks (Crespel)
Michael Imbimbo (Spalanzani, Nathaniel)
Jason Ferrandino (Andreas/Cochenille/Frantz/Pitichinaccio)
Matthew Gamble (Luther,Schlemil)
Aleks Romano (Mothers voice)

Chorus Preparation/Company Pianist – Nathaniel Baker

Staged by Chris Ryan and Jason Ferrandino
Set Design and Costumes by Katie Jurkiewicz
Original set by Phoenix Theater Comp.
Light design by Peter Smith

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra
Conductor/Artistic Director – Adrian Sylveen