Offenbach: Les Contes D'Hoffmann (Salzburg Festival, 2024, Directed by: Clément)

Offenbach becomes Hollywood: Mariame Clémence's production of Les Contes d'Hoffmann transforms its title character into a storyteller of a different kind. The various acts, based on short stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann, take the audience on a journey through the world of cinema, from a 1970s science fiction film to a period drama and finally to a feverish experimental sequence. The three lovers Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta are portrayed by American soprano Kathryn Lewek, who "impresses with brilliantly assertive coloratura, melting cantilena and pulsating drama" (Drehpunktkultur). At the center of this tragic story of unrequited love is Hoffmann himself, who in this production takes on the role of a screenwriter and film director. The incredibly charismatic Benjamin Bernheim "celebrates the poignant tragedy of his character in a magnificent way. Tone, expression and presence could not be combined better" (Der Standard). Kate Lindsey, portraying the muse disguised as Hoffmann's friend Niklausse, is a joy to watch and listen to as she "absorbs Clémence's creative energy and gilds her vocal brilliance with theatrical exuberance" (Der Standard). An evening at the opera that covers the emotional spectrum from hilarious comedy to deep heartache.