The Latvian National Opera is set to open the season with a new production of Jacques Offenbach's opera Les contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann), premiering on September 26. This highly anticipated production is under the musical direction of renowned French conductor Frédéric Chaslin and staged by acclaimed director Aik Karapetian. The creative team also includes set designer Miķelis Fišers, costume designer Kristīne Pasternaka, choreographer Linda Mīļā, and lighting designer Eugenijus Sabaļauskas.

The title role of Hoffmann will be performed by celebrated Italian tenor Giorgio Berrugi and Latvian National Opera soloist Artjoms Safronovs. Other key roles will be portrayed by Rihards Mačanovskis (Lindorf/Coppélius/Miracle/Dapertutto), Štěpánka Pučálková or Laura Grecka (Muse/Nicklausse), Annija Kristiāna Ādamsone or Inga Šļubovska-Kanceviča (Olympia), Jūlija Vasiļjeva or Inna Kločko (Antonia), and Dana Bramane or Tatjana Trenogina (Giulietta), and others.

Jacques Offenbach's fantastical opera brilliantly brings to life the motifs from German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann’s stories. The opera’s protagonist, Hoffmann, recalls moments when he was deeply in love… There was the graceful Olympia, who turned out to be an automaton rather than a living woman. Then, there was the mortally ill Antonia, who was slayed by her love of the vocal arts. And, finally, the courtesan Giulietta, whose interest in Hoffmann was selfish and fleeting. Today, however, Hoffmann is madly in love with Stella, convinced that she is the one, because she embodies the best qualities of Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta..

Les contes d’Hoffmann had its world premiere at the Opéra Comique in Paris in February 1881, just four months after Offenbach’s death. The Latvian National Opera has previously staged the opera in 1923, 1938, 1954, and 1982.

"This opera has a true magic power, a fascination that is entirely down to Offenbach's musical genius," says Frédéric Chaslin, who has recently staged this opera at the Dresden Semperoper and Milan's Teatro alla Scala.

" In our interpretation, the prologue or the exposition no longer depicts an author of romantic texts in the midst of a creative crisis. Rather, Hoffman is a metropolitan man – an art collector. And the unsuccessful life with his beloved, the opera singer Stella, is Hoffman’s own fault. Under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms, Hoffman, his cat Nicklausse and his rival Lindorf embark on a journey that allows them to see what’s lurking in the subconscious mind. Moreover, the tales about Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta reflect various periods and art forms.," explains director Aik Karapetian, whose aim is to add a touch of comedy to the opera by experimenting with various genres: comedy, tragedy, and melodrama.

A special pre-premiere event, Conversations about Les contes d’Hoffmann, will take place at the Latvian National Opera’s New Hall on September 23 at 18:30. The evening will feature discussions with the creative team, musical performances, and an audiovisual lecture by opera historian Mikus Čeže, titled Exercises in the Art of Selfishness. Language of the event is Latvian.

Additional performances are scheduled for September 29, October 4 and 6, November 20, January 10, March 29, May 9, and June 12.

Tickets are available at the Latvian National Opera box office and online.