Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffman (The Tales of Hoffman)
Based on three famous tales of fantasy by E.T.A. Hoffman, the opera presents the poet Hoffman recounting the stories of three of his past loves, each of which was thwarted by the evil genius of his rival. It is not in Offenbach’s previous operetta tradition, but is more serious in tone and dramatic ambition, and captures the combination of reality and fantasy, the romantic and grotesque of the original tales.