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OperaNotes Review
Metropolitan Opera House
December 13, 2004
By Charlene Frank
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music: Jacques Offenbach
Conductor:
Frédéric Chaslin
Production: Otto Schenk
Set Designer: Gunther Schneider-Siemssen
Stage Director: David Kneuss
Cast:
Olympia: Aleksandra Kurzak
Antonia: Hei-Kyung Hong
Giulietta: Béatrice Uria-Monzon
Nicklausse/The Muse: Ruxandra Donose
Hoffmann: Ramón Vargas
Four Villains: James Morris
Last night was a thoroughly entertaining evening. Otto Schenk's production of Hoffmann may be old, but it still gets applause when the curtains opens on Jacques Offenbach's very dark, very strange comedy.
This macabre opera based rather loosely (actually more then rather loosely) on the life of E.T.A Hoffmann, had the whole audience talking. Ramón Vargas, who has performed several Met roles over the past few years has never been better. His portrayal of the weak, drunk anti-hero Hoffmann was about as close to perfect as one could get. He evoked our sympathies at the same time as making us realize that any bad choices we might have made in relationships may not have been so bad after all! At least our bad choices were real humans! Talk about making serial terrible choices, whew....
Soprano Aleksandra Kurzak was an amazing Olympia. Not only did she have a lovely coloratura, but there were times when her movements were so mechanical and doll-like that I had to keep reminding myself that she was only portraying a doll!
It is always a pleasure to see Hei-Kyung Hong perform at the Met. Although she never has made my heart jump when she sings, she also has never disappointed. And tonight as Antonia, she did not disappoint. Unfortunately Ruxandra Donose was disappointing. Although she performed superbly as the Muse and Nicklausse, she could scarcely be heard, especially in the lower registers.
James Morris knows how to play a villain and he did well tonight. He was not incredible, but he was good. Tonight the evening truly belonged to Ramón Vargas and Aleksandra Kurzak, as well as to French conductor Frédéric Chaslin for whom Hoffmann was his second Met opera this season. We hope to see him here more often.