Les contes d'Hoffmann facts for kids

Les contes d'Hoffmann (which means The Tales of Hoffmann) is a famous French opera. It tells a story through music and singing. This opera has a special structure. It starts with a prologue, then has three main parts called acts, and finishes with an epilogue.

The amazing music for The Tales of Hoffmann was written by Jacques Offenbach. The story and words, called the libretto, were created by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. Their story was inspired by the writings of E.T.A. Hoffmann, especially his work Dr Sandmann, Geschichte von Verloreren Spiegelbilde. The opera was first shown to the public in Paris on February 10, 1881.

This opera was the last big work by Offenbach. Sadly, he passed away before he could completely finish it. Another composer, Ernest Guiraud, helped to finish the music. Guiraud also wrote the recitatives, which are parts where characters sing in a way that sounds like talking. Originally, the opera was planned to have spoken dialogue instead. When it first opened, The Tales of Hoffmann was an instant hit. People loved it, and it has been popular ever since.

Main Characters in the Opera

In The Tales of Hoffmann, you'll meet several important characters. Here are the main ones and the type of singing voice they have:

• Hoffmann - This is the main character, sung by a tenor (a high male voice).
• Olympia - A special character sung by a soprano (a high female voice).
• Antonia - Another soprano role.
• Giuletta - Also sung by a soprano.
• Stella - The last soprano role.
• Dr Miracle - A mysterious character sung by a bass (a low male voice).
• Dapertutto - Another bass role.
• Coppélius - Also sung by a bass.
• Lindorf - The final bass role.
• Nicklaus - Hoffmann's friend, sung by a mezzo-soprano (a female voice between soprano and alto).
• Spalanzani - Sung by a tenor.

It's interesting to know that often, the same singer will perform all four soprano roles (Olympia, Antonia, Giuletta, and Stella). The same often happens for the four bass roles (Dr Miracle, Dapertutto, Coppélius, and Lindorf). This is because these characters are meant to show different sides or aspects of just two main characters in Hoffmann's story.

Images for kids

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  The death of Antonia (act 2) in the original 1881 production. In front: Adèle Isaac; in back (left to right): Hippolyte Belhomme, Marguerite Ugalde, Pierre Grivot, Émile-Alexandre Taskin, Jean-Alexandre Talazac.

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  Costume design for Hoffmann in act 1, 1903

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  Prologue (or epilogue), in the 1881 première

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  The Olympia act, as staged at the 1881 première

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  Antonia and Dr. Miracle, 1881

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  Giuletta act, 1881

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  The original E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776–1822)

See also

In Spanish: Los cuentos de Hoffmann para niños