Les contes d'Hoffmann facts for kids

Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) is a French opera. It has a prologue, three acts and an epilogue. The music was written by Jacques Offenbach. The libretto was written by Jules Berbier and Michel Carré. It is based on E.T.A Hoffmann's Dr Sandmann, Geschichte von Verloreren Spiegelbilde. The opera was first performed in Paris, on 10 February 1881.

The opera was the last and perhaps greatest work of Offenbach. It was not quite finished when he died. The final score was completed by Ernest Guiraud. Guiraud also wrote the recitatives, though at first it was meant to have spoken-dialogue. The work was an immediate success and has remained so since its creation.

Principal characters

• Hoffmann - tenor
• Olympia - soprano
• Antonia - soprano
• Giuletta - soprano
• Stella - soprano
• Dr Miracle - bass
• Dapertutto - bass
• Coppélius - bass
• Lindorf - bass
• Nicklaus - mezzo-soprano
• Spalanzani - tenor

• Ideally, the four soprano roles should be sung by the same singer as well as the four bass roles as they represent different aspects of two characters.

• The Complete Dictionary of Opera & Operetta, James Anderson, Wings Books, 1993.

Images for kids

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  The death of Antonia (act 2) in the original 1881 production. In front: Adèle Isaac; in back (left to right): Hippolyte Belhomme, Marguerite Ugalde, Pierre Grivot, Émile-Alexandre Taskin, Jean-Alexandre Talazac.

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  Costume design for Hoffmann in act 1, 1903

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  Prologue (or epilogue), in the 1881 première

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  The Olympia act, as staged at the 1881 première

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  Antonia and Dr. Miracle, 1881

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  Giuletta act, 1881

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  The original E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776–1822)

See also

In Spanish: Los cuentos de Hoffmann para niños