Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffman

Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffman

Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffman

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CD Details

Performer: Bruce Dargavel
Performer: Owen Brannigan
Composer: Jacques Offenbach
Conductor: Thomas Beecham
Performer: Joan Alexander
Performer: Monica Sinclair
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Performer: Ann Ayars
Performer: Dorothy Bond
Performer: Margherita Grandi
Performer: Grahame Clifford
Performer: Murray Dickie
Performer: René Soames
Performer: Robert Rounseville
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-11-23
Music Label: Pearl
Soundtracks:

Music CD 1

Prologue: Prelude, Introduction And Chorus: Drink, Drink Drink
Prologue: Good Day My Friends
Prologue: Now Long Ago (Legend Of Kleinzach)
Prologue: Now What Words To Paint Those Features: Finale
Act I: Intermezzo
Act I: There Sleep In Peace
Act I: So Be It
Act I: Ah, Could We Two Together
Act I: Of Course, I Might Have Known
Act I: One Doll That Had Enamel Eyes
Act I: Tis I Coppelius... Try My Eyes
Act I: Oh You!
Act I: None But Our Host Do I Declare
Act I: You Will Not Have To Wait My Friends
Act I: A Lovely Pair Of Eyes
Act I: The Doll's Song
Act I: Her Reputation's Well Deserved
Act I: Supper At Last Now Is Served
Act I: So Now They've Gone Away At Last
Act I: Ah! Can You Feel My Love
Act I: Oh My Dear, Do But Stay
Act I: Finale - Let The Dancing Proceed
Act I: Entr'acte & Barcarolle

Music CD 2

Act II: For Me A Love Like That
Act II: I See A Celebration
Act II: So Gleam With Desire
Act II: Fair Angel... What Must I Do To Merit Such A Surprise
Act II: You Are Leaving Me
Act II: Oh Heaven A Joy Divine Illumines All Around Me
Act II: Your Eyes, Your Face
Act II: Just As I Thought
Act II: Alas My Soul Again Outpouring
Act II: Finale: Do You Hear, My Friends?
Act III: Entr'acte - All In Vain
Act III: Oh My Darling Child
Act III: Day And Night I'm Always Slaving
Act III: Franz, So They're Here
Act III: Sweet Is The Song Lovers Learn
Act III: And Yet, Beloved
Act III: Are You Ill?
Act III: Well, Say On Then, And Be Brief
Act III: No More To Sing Alas
Act III: You'll Never Sing Again
Act III: Your Beauty And Your Charms
Act III: Child Of Mine, Hear Me Calling
Act III: Intermezzo (Barcarolle)
Epilogue: Entr'acte And Finale... Pour Out The Wine And Drink

Music reviews of Offenbach: The Tales of Hoffman

Music Review: Not Authentic But Gripping !!!
Rating: 4 Stars

As great a conductor as Sir Thomas Beecham was, he couldn't help himself when it came to mucking about with operatic scores. His performance version of HOFFMANN for the Pressburger/Powell film preserves most of the corruptions that attached themselves to this score since its premiere and throws in some unique cutting, chopping and dicing(Probably for the needs of the film). That is the bad news. The good news is that this is a gripping performance. (The film set impossibly high standards for the live staging of the opera. I remember how disappointed I was the first time I saw the opera live. The production had none of the magic conjured by the film.)
Denis Arundel's translation is superb. It is remarkably apt and clear. Every word "tells".
Cuts aside, Beecham controls the score beautifully. The singing of all but one of the principals is first rate. Robert Rounsville is a soulfully involved Hoffmann, Dorothy Bond a dazzling Olympia and Anne Ayers a beautifully voiced, grandly tragic Antonia, a very young Monica Sinclair,a perky Nicklausse. Bruce Dargaviel and Owen Brannigan make a feast of the lower voiced roles. The problem here is Margehrita Grandi as Giulietta. She is very much past her prime. While she is still very "grand", she also scoops and bellows. (Just two and three years before she had recorded superb Verdi arias.)
The sound quality is more than passable. This is an excellent transfer.

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