operaexplorer

Travelling and enjoying opera performances

Tales of intoxicated Hoffmann: Jones production with Spyres, Brower, Damrau, Pudova and Testé

My intent when booking the ticket for another “Tales of Hoffmann” was to see Aleksandra Kurzak interpreting all 4 roles, and to see how Ildar Abdrazakov will play 4 various villains. None of it materialised since both pulled out and were replaced: Kurzak by a combo of Olga Pudova and Diana Damrau, and Abdrazakov by […]

Endless search for a dream: Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Opera National de Paris, November 12, 2016

Another night with high expectations was turned into mild disappointment in the planning phase and then into unanimous approval and enthusiastic applause by sold out and packed Opera Bastille cheering main protagonists, conductor and director who was not there to receive gratitude from the public. The run of performances of Les Contes d’Hoffmann was highly […]