Les contes d’Hoffmann, Norrlandsoperan, Umeå

 

An opera fantastique about real and imagined love

Who in our enlightened age believes in the great, one and only true love? We have sought, through psychological self-understanding, scientific insight and stark realism, to free ourselves from the madness and pain of love. Yet, who does not dream of the partner with the perfect body, and who does not seek a soulmate to share thoughts and ideals in life and art, and who is not seduced by sensual attraction and the sensual pleasures of luxury?

The poet Hoffmann dreams freely and plunges headlong into relationship after relationship with his ideal phantom images of true love. But when the delusions of his dreams are revealed and his beloved appears in everyday form and ankle-straight shoes, Hoffmann does not recognize true love reciprocated.

Artistic team

Conductor: Henrik Schaefer, 2nd conductor: Arnaud Arbet
Direction, set & costume design: Bogdan Szyber & Carina Reich
Video design: Annie Tådne
Light design: Ronald Salas
Make up design: Angelica Ekeberg
Choreography: Sara Ribbenstedt
Choir master: Anders Lundström
Swedish text: Tarja Ylinen

On stage

Hoffmann: Thorbjørn Gulbrandsøy
Stella, Olympia, Antonia & Giulietta: Denise Beck
Cover Stella, Olympia, Antonia & Giulietta: Elsa Ridderstedt
La Muse, Niclausse: Amie Foon
Lindorf, Coppélius, Dr Miracle & Dapertutto: Fredrik Zetterström
Cochenille, Pitichinachio & Nathanael: Fabian Düberg
La Voix de la Tombe: Susanna Levonen
Créspel, Luther: Peter Kajlinger
Schlemil / Wilhelm: Linus Flogell
Spalanzani: Anders Lundström
Herman: Martin Hillberg

Norrlandsoperan Symphony orchestra / Norrlandsoperan’s Choir

Premiere October 29th 2022