Admin

Opernhaus Zürich

Dirigent

Dirigent (+2)

Antonino Fogliani

Regisseur

Regisseur (+2)

Andreas Homoki

Set designer

Set designer (+2)

Wolfgang Gussmann

Kostuum ontwerper

Kostuum ontwerper (+2)

Susana Mendoza

Assistent decorontwerper

Thomas Bruner

Licht ontwerper

Licht ontwerper (+3)

Franck Evin

Koor meester

Dirigent (+14)

Janko Kastelic

Dramaturg

Beate Breidenbach

Tenor (+1)

Saimir Pirgu

Hoffmann

Mezzosopraan (+4)

Marina Viotti

Nicklausse

La Muse

Sopraan (+4)

Katrina Galka

Olympia

Sopraan (+1)

Adriana González

Antonia

Lauren Fagan

Giulietta

Maria Stella Maurizi

Stella

Bas-bariton (+3)

Andrew Foster-Williams

Lindorf

Coppélius

Miracle

Dapertutto

Tenor (+3)

Nathan Haller

Andres

Cochenille

Frantz

Pittichinaccio

Bas (+3)

Valeriy Murga

Luther

Tenor

Christopher Willoughby

Nathanaёl

Maximilian Lawrie

Wolfram

Daniel Norman

Spalanzani

Bas (+4)

Stanislav Vorobyov

Crespel

Mezzosopraan (+2)

Judith Schmid

La voix de la mère/La voix de la tombe

Orchestra

The Orchester der Oper Zürich

Opernhaus

Chorus

Chor der Oper Zürich

Extras

Statistenverein am Opernhaus Zürich

Bariton (+2)

Steffan Lloyd Owen

Hermann

Bas (+2)

Lobel Barun

Wilhelm

Bas-bariton (+4)

Samson Setu

Schlémil

Le Capitaine des Sbires

Bas (+1)

Max Bell

In his final opera, Jacques Offenbach made E.T.A. Hoffmann, the most famous poet of the Romantic period, into his main character. The poet explores the threshold between reality and fantasy in a fascinating way in his magical-surreal tales. The opera masterfully combines operetta, sentimental opéra comique and romantic-fantastic opera. Original melodic inventions merge with gripping drama and, of course, Offenbach’s subtle irony interrupts his main character’s rapturous states.
Hoffmann, the poet, is torn between art and life, love and fantasy, dream and reality. His love for Stella, the singer, remains unrequited, and he takes refuge in alcohol and the world of his imagination. Over the course of a wine-soaked evening, he tells his friends of three fantastical love affairs. Olympia, the immaculate beauty he fell head over heels in love with – only to discover that the woman he so desperately wanted was a doll. Antonia, who was consumed by feverish song and died in Hoffmann’s arms. And Giulietta, the Venetian courtesan, who swore him undying love and seduced him, all with the singular goal of stealing his reflection. Each time, Hoffmann failed – himself, in love, and against his diabolical adversary.
The premiere of this staging by Andreas Homoki took place online in the spring of 2021, due to coronavirus pandemic; this season the production finally bows on stage before an audience. Saimir Pirgu made a convincing debut in the title role, and he returns as Hoffmann in this revival. As at the premiere, Italian conductor Antonino Fogliani is at the podium of the Philharmonia Zürich.

Frans