Royal Opera

Les Contes d'Hoffmann

In Cinemas 16, 17, 18 & 21 Dec 2016
Conductor
Evelino Pidò
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Cast
Vittorio Grigòlo, Thomas Hampson, Sofia Fomina, Christine Rice, Sonya Yoncheva, Catherine Carby
Composer
Jacques Offenbach
Director
John Schlesinger
Set Design
William Dudley
Duration
4h15, incl. 2 intervals
Sung in French, with English subtitles
Captured live from Covent Garden, London 15 Nov 2016
Official Event Listing
  • A beguiling piece of music theatre: witty, erotic and macabre by turns. Grigòlo and Hampson make a striking pairing, and the women are excellent.
    Tim Ashley, THE GUARDIAN
    An extraordinary work, definitely worth catching in the late, great film-director John Schlesinger’s insanely sumptuous, near-definitive 1980 production on its last outing.
    Cara Chanteau, THE INDEPENDENT

The Royal Opera's lavish production of Offenbach’s fantastical opera is a favourite with audiences, and this season the production takes its final bow. Created by Academy Award-winning film director John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy), it brings alive a 19th-century world of romance, comedy, mystery and menace.

Charismatic young tenor Vittorio Grigòlo is Hoffmann – compelled to tell the story of his lovers who, he believes, have all been stolen by a succession of arch villains. Superb baritone Thomas Hampson performs all four villains. The stunning showpiece numbers are perfect vehicles for the vocal virtuosity of Sofia Fomina as the clockwork doll Olympia, Christine Rice as the courtesan Giulietta, and Sonya Yoncheva as Hoffmann's last love Antonia.

Screening at all locations, excl. Riverside. Palace Nova Eastend screens Wed only, and Balwyn Sat/Sun only due to respective venue refurbishment. 

Royal Opera

The Royal Opera is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based in London’s iconic Royal Opera House (1858) in Covent Garden, it is renowned both for its outstanding performances of traditional opera and for commissioning new works by today’s leading opera composers, such as Harrison Birtwistle, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Thomas Adès.

See more productions from: Royal Ballet and Opera