Bregenz’s Tales of Hoffmann is different from everything you’ve seen before. The New York Times praised the “thoughtfulness and creativity” of Stefan Herheim’s new production, devised by the director as a search for one’s own self in a sparkling drag show. A “shining-toned” (NYT) Hoffmann is embodied by tenor Daniel Johansson in the title role. He is supported by a fantastic cast: “Rachel Frenkel is positively ideal as Muse and Niklausse” (Kurier), Kerstin Avemo as Olympia is “endowed with brilliant, cheekily extemporized coloraturas” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung), Michael Volle sings the parts of Lindorf, Coppelius, Dr Miracle and Dappertutto, “the work’s four villains, with warmth and intensity” (NYT) and Mandy Fredrich is a “finely-phrased Antonia” (Kurier).

“The opera visit of the year – Bregenz is showing a Tales of Hoffmann that makes you forget everything you saw before.” – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

“A stroke of genius, a milestone in the history of staging this work!” – Süddeutsche Zeitung

“…that we hardly dare take breath until the world of the drunken genius and desperate lover lies utterly in ruins.” – Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Stage director: Stefan Herheim

Recorded at the Bregenz Festival, 2015

Sound format: DTS-HD MA 5.0, PCM 2.0
Picture: 16:9, HD
Subtitles: French (original language), English, German, Spanish, Korean, Japanese
Booklet: English, German, French
Total running time: 174 mins