Search - Rodney Hall, Donald Bernard, Norman Treigle :: Offenbach - Les contes d'Hoffmann

A great opera. Great singers-

Carlos Fuentes y Espinosa | Mexico´s city, Mexico | 05/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a beautiful, charming and wonderful opera. It was composed by the great J. Offenbach. However, he died before the opera was performed for the first time. Besides, the composer didn't finish some parts. That's why any time we hera it, it seems to be different. This time, the version is quite complete, and the singers are very good. Beverly Sills was a very nice soprano who developed a great carrer. Here, she sings beautifully. Nevertheless, I want you to knoe the best part of it is the bass performance: Norman Treigle, an incredible bass baritone sings here the four devils: Dappertutto, Coppelius, Miracle and Lindorff. He has a poweful, superb and pretty voice which is handle by him perfectly. All his three difficult arie are sung with the correct voice, diffrently coloured and expressive. Highly recommended. The tenor sings the main character Hoffmann, he is vey good, and give us a happy time. Anyway, one could say there has been better Hoffmann. the orchestra is correct as the conductor, so the whole thing is magnificent. We should remember this tales are based on the famous stories by the Father of Terror: E.T.A. Hoffmann who wrote Saint Sylvester's night ( Giuglietta's ), The violin of Cremona ( Antonia's ), The Sandman ( Olympia's ), and many more tales which have been the most important in their genre. Offenbach show us thru his music the perfect Hoffmann's atmosphere for this opera, fantastic opera. Listen it!!"

Great Singers, Wrong Recording

Martin W. Eldred | Eagle River, AK United States | 02/02/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The late Norman Treigle is, in my opinion, one of the most overlooked singing talents of the 20th century. The genius of Sills is well recognized and appreciated. I prefer live recordings of opera to studio ones. I am willing to put up with the occasional cough from the audience, sour note in the orchestra, or any number of things that make live theatre an adventure. To me, the trade off is worth it it one can pick up the energy and intensity that some often goes missing in the more polished studio attempts. Given that, I still cannot recommend this recording.



This recording is so disappointing that it drove me complete distraction. The sound quality is so poor, that it does absolutely no justice to the singers. The background noise, complete with the shuffling of paper (I think from the Maestro's stand) is so LOUD at some points that it drove me crazy.



Norman Treigle is my idol and his interpretation of these roles is superb. That is why I am so glad that there is another recoding paring Sills and Treigle. I agree wit the others who recommend the Westminster version - get it and pass on this one, you won't be sorry.

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A Masterpiece Of Opera Thanks To Sills And Treigle

Martin W. Eldred | 07/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although this recording, in my personal opinion, lacks the dynamics and beauty of the reissue of the Westminster LP- the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by the great Julius Rudel and Sills playing the three heroines, Treigle playing all the villains, Stuart Burrows as Hoffman, plus the voices of Nico Castel Susan Marsee, Robert Lloyd and Patrica Kern. The other recording featuring Beverly Sills and Norman Treigle. This is only second best to the other cd. On that cd, the cover has Beverly Sills spreading her cloak as the Muse and underneath are portraits of Beverly as all 3 heroines- Olympia the doll, Giuletta the courtesan and Antonia the opera singer. The New Orleans orchestra, with all respect to that established musical troupe, lacks the refinement and sheer power of the London Symphony Orchestra. And there is no denying the perfect direction of Julius Rudel as conductor. If you're looking for a great Tales Of Hoffman, get the other recording. Nevertheless-What really makes this recording acceptable is Beverly Sills and Norman Treigle. They were made to sing together. Beverly Sills is as always the definition of the true soprano- she sings with beauty and versatility and she acts with dramatic artistry. Not since Maria Callas "singing-actress" days has a soprano equaled or even surpassed her. Beverly Sills can not only sing beautifully, but she acts convincingly and gives it great feeling and depth. As the three heroines of "The Tales Of Hoffman", she shines. French operas were her greatest strength, as they allowed for her to sing with perfect diction and grace. As Olympia, her coloratura technique, especially in the Doll Song "Les Ouisseaux" and in the finale "Waltz" scene is captivating. As Giuletta the heartless courtesan, she is even more convincing. Materialistic, seductive, her voice and dramatic prowess is at perfect level in the duet with Hoffman. Her vocals in the Septet that ends the act is phenomenal. Finally, as Antonia the soprano suffering of consumption, she is at her best. Her naive, sophisticated tristesse is pure art. Her opening aria "Elle e fui" in which she longs for her lost love, is touching and poignant. Her duet with Hoffman again showcases her lyricism and strength in the French repertoire. Her greatest moment comes in the concluding trio with Treigle and the mezzo soprano singing the role of her mother's ghost. Her voice escalates and strains as she sings herself to death, her voice climaxing in a great cry that sounds like a comet whizzing into the sky.Norman Treigle is not to be neglected. He was the supreme bass-baritone of his day in the 60's and 70's. Collaborating with Beverly Sills, his dramatic allure and his villainous vocals are the perfect match to Sills' delicate femininity. Treigle is the perfect threesome of villains. He is great as Lindorf, the rival to Hoffman as proven in the great aria which he opens his character with Dans le role des amoreaux. As Coppelius he shines with scheming malice, which is the same with Dappertuto and Dr. Miracle. It is as Dr. Miracle, however, that he is at his best.This cd is good, thanks to the efforts of Beverly Sills and Norman Treigle, but this is not the recording of Tales of Hoffman to get. Go and get the other recording with Sills and Treigle."