The drunken poet Hoffmann is in love with Stella, a singer. In a letter, the Muse returns the hopeful poet’s feelings, but the missive is intercepted by his worst rival

The lovesick and hungover poet drinks himself senseless and tells tales of his capsized amorous adventure. The Tales of Hoffmann is a grotesque and almost gothic story. In his day, Offenbach was renowned for his work as an operetta composer but he dreamed of creating his first ‘serious’ opera based on the tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann. Unfortunately the composer died with the score incomplete, and it was left to a colleague to assemble a full version from Offenbach’s notes. The performance was a huge success at the 1881 premiere, but it has since given rise to both controversy and superstition – while at the same time enjoying world-wide popularity. 

World-famous director Stefan Herheim returns to the Royal Danish Opera with his fourth production at the Royal Danish Theatre, ready to take on the unruly Hoffmann. Sumptuous, almost decadent set designs are part of Herheim’s directorial trademark, leaving ample opportunities to discover the work anew or simply sit back and enjoy.

The Royal Danish Theatre wishes to thank the Hempel Foundation for a special donation to make possible this production of Les contes d'Hoffmann.

Les contes d'Hoffmann is a joint production with the Bregenz Festival and the Opera House in Cologne.

Performed in French with Danish supertitles. 

Based on the play by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Edited by Michael Kaye and Jean-Christophe Keck