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Offenbach: Les contes d'Hoffman / Alagna, Nagano, Lyon National Orchestra


Release Date: 05/20/2016 
Label:  Erato   Catalog #: 555531   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Jacques Offenbach
Performer:  Gilles Ragon,  Juanita Lascarro,  Gabriel Bacquier,  Catherine Dubosc,   ... 
Conductor:  Kent Nagano
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lyon National Opera Orchestra
Number of Discs: 3 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

Roberto Alagna, superbly stylish in French, embodies the poet Hoffmann, whose dreams of love are repeatedly shattered by José van Dam, inimitable as the four villains of the piece. Natalie Dessay conquered the world as the mechanical doll Olympia, while Sumi Jo seduces as Giulietta and Leontina Vaduva wrings the heart as Antonia. Conducting Michael Kaye’s comprehensive edition of the episodic score (left incomplete at Offenbach’s death), Kent Nagano brilliantly fuses the diverse elements of Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Roberto Alagna, superbly stylish in French, embodies the poet Hoffmann, whose dreams of love are repeatedly shattered by José van Dam, inimitable as the four villains of the piece. Natalie Dessay conquered the world as the mechanical doll Olympia, while Sumi Jo seduces as Giulietta and Leontina Vaduva wrings the heart as Antonia. Conducting Michael Kaye’s comprehensive edition of the episodic score (left incomplete at Offenbach’s death), Kent Nagano brilliantly fuses the diverse elements of Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Read less

Works on This Recording

1.
Les contes d'Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach
Performer:  Gilles Ragon (Tenor), Juanita Lascarro (Soprano), Gabriel Bacquier (Baritone),
Catherine Dubosc (Soprano), Michel Sénéchal (Tenor), José van Dam (Voice),
Roberto Alagna (Tenor), Natalie Dessay (Soprano), Sumi Jo (Soprano),
Leontina Vaduva (Soprano)
Conductor:  Kent Nagano
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lyon National Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1881; Paris, France 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 2 Customer Reviews )
 Still waiting for the DVD to show up July 11, 2017 By Peter Ledwith (Lynbrook, NY) See All My Reviews "Dear Sirs/Mesdames, This DVD was ordered and paid for some time ago. We are still waiting for it to show up at our home. In passing, may I say that the other DVDs you sent were each excellent and worthy of five stars. I truly appreciate your your wonderful company. Be assured of my continued patronage. Fondly, Peter K. Ledwith pkledwith@msn.com 516-849-1771" Report Abuse
 Delightful and satisfying. July 29, 2016 By JOSEPH ERDELJAC (WEST CHESTER, PA) See All My Reviews "The Tales of Hoffmann is a wonderful work and filled with many great melodies for the singers and choruses. Alanga is in great form in this most difficult tenor endurance roles. I love the fact that the women are all cast with different singers as was the original intent. It later became a thing that one soprano would take on all 4 roles which often leaves something lacking for as great as they are, such as Sills and Sutherland, there is not enough change in the vocal quality between the rolls. Also here Nicklausse is cast with a mezzo soprano but I prefer it to be a baritone, as in some other recordings. Another difference here is that all the villain parts are different singers where on some recordings they are often sung by one vocalist because the various villains are different embodiments of Hoffmann's arch villain. These alterations are always a question for discussion and make for lively conversations among opera lovers." Report Abuse
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