Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Glou! glou! glou! je suis le vin!
2. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Dans les rôles d'amoureux langoureux
3. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Allons, allons mes enfants! Préparez cette salle
4. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Eh! Luther! Ma grosse tonne
5. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Il était une fois à la cour d'Eisenach
6. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Peuh! cette bière est détestable!
7. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Et par où votre diablerie
8. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Prologue. Entr'acte
9. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. Allons! Courage et confiance
10. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. Pardieu! J'étais bien sûr de te trouver ici!
11. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. J'ai des yeux, de vrais yeux
12. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. Non, aucun hôte, vraiment
13. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. Les oiseaux dans la charmille
14. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. Ils se sont éloignés enfin!
15. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. Tu me fuis? qu'ai-je fait?
16. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 1. Voici les valseurs!
17. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour
18. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. Amis! l'Amour tendre et rêveur
19. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. Au jeu, au jeu, messieurs!

Disc 2:

1. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. Scintille, diamant
2. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. A nous trois, mes maîtres!
3. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. Malheureux, tu ne comprends donc pas
4. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. Que vais-je faire? Quel est ce breuvage?
5. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3. Elle a fui, la touterelle
6. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3. Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre
7. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3. C'est une chanson d'amour qui s'envole
8. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3. Que veux-tu faire?
9. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3. Tu ne chanteras plus... sais-tu quel sacrifice
10. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 3. Intermède-Entr'acte
11. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Epilogue. Voilà, mes amis, quelle fut l'histoire de mes trois amours
12. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Epilogue. Messieurs, le souper est servi!
13. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Epilogue. Et moi? Moi, la fidèle amie
14. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Epilogue. Adieu! Je ne veux pas te suivre
15. Les contes d'Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Epilogue. Jusqu'au matin remplis, remplis, mon verre!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5477 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .87 pounds

Amazon.com
This is the first of many recordings that attempts to return this opera--which the composer left unfinished at his death--to something more in line with what he envisioned. While it may work in the theater, it seems fitful on record, particularly with spoken dialogue. The cast, with Plácido Domingo in the title role and Joan Sutherland playing all three heroines in the flashbacks, has long made this recording a first-choice Hoffmann among some critics. But Domingo lacks the ideal vocal elegance, and having three different personalities as the heroines can be much more interesting. This recording does have some famous French character singers in its favor--Hugues Cuénod and Gabriel Bacquier--but this may be mostly for Sutherland fans. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews

Definitive recording of Offenbach's masterpiece
Domingo, Sutherland, Bacquier and Tourangeau star in this lively and very French recording of "Hoffmann". Richard Bonynge, the conductor, follows what he considered at the time to be the most "Offenbach-ish" version of the opera, one in which a little new music is added, other music is cleaned up, other music left alone and the recitatives cut out all together. The cast is entirely French except for Domingo and Sutherland, so it is a delightful experience to hear Frenchies speak French in true Opera-Comique style.

Domingo as Hoffmann leaves nothing to be desired. He was quite young when this recording was made, and has no trouble at all with the high tessitura of the part. He sings here as I have rarely heard him sing before and with such careful attention to the music and his role that he makes Hoffmann come alive -- something I have not witnessed any other Hoffmann to do.

Sutherland, singing the four heroines, tackles an extremely difficult part with her trademark agility. Nothing seems too difficult for her: her coloratura passages as Olympia shimmer and sparkle in the midst of their preciseness, and she sings Giulietta, the courtesan, with powerful conviction.

However, I believe it is in the "Antonia" act that she sings the best. The quality of the music in this act is far above the others, for some reason, and Sutherland takes advantage of this at every moment. Every note is a polished jewel; intengrity, musicality and convicted singing blend beautifully and effortlessly. She *becomes* Antonia, and sings the highly complex passages as if it were no more difficult than rolling out of bed.

Gabriel Bacquier as the four villians, and Hugette Tourangeau as Nicklausse/The Muse are perfectly casted in their roles. Tourangeau was especially good. Her creamy, dark mezzo voice is easy to fall in love with.

There is no weak link in this CD. The chorus is excellent, the minor characters fresh and exciting...the list goes on and on. This album is most definitely worth your time and money.

Bonynge reconstructs Offenbach's swan song.
This recording is Bonynge's attempt at a reconstruction of Offenbach's uncompleted swan song. While recent discoveries have rendered this edition obsolete, it remains a truly beautiful recording. I personally prefer 1 soprano as the 4 heroines to mirror the baritone as the 4 villains (why have one without the structural & psychological strength of the other?) Sutherland is at the top of her form here. I have always loved the breathless abandon she brings to the 'Antonia' act trio. Most amazing is her dialogue delivery, for those who insist she cannot act. Domingo is likewise exellent, there is true passion in his readings and his voice had that youthful luster. Bacquier is stunning in his 4 characterizations, all different and beautifully rendered. The dialogue was excellently coached and rips along at a breakneck pace. I much prefer this to the endlessly dull recitatives of the Choudens edition. I have heard many Hoffman's over the years, including the recent and more accurate reconstructions, but this recording remains my favorite. (However, I also recommend the recent recording with Alagana.)

FANTASTIC!
I can`t think of any other records of this enthralling opera by Offenbach, that is, in its ENTIRETY, better than this version. It has it all: beauty, humor,drama etc. And this is comming out in such a brilliant way here, so you`ll get totaly thrilled.
Especially Domingo is enormous, maybe unsurpassed in this role and Sutherland unbelievable in all her different characters.
Go for it!