Orchestra: Ópera de Lyon, Ópera de Lyon, Kent Nagano - Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (1996)

This recording is based on the critical edition of Michael Kaye, so it is very different from most recordings of this opera. As you know, Offenbach died before he could finish the "Tales of Hoffmann", and after his death, others finished the opera, and for almost every new production anew. As a result, many different versions were formed, but they were all extremely far from the author's idea. Since the middle of the last century, attempts have been made to reconstruct the opera, but for a long time it was impossible, because a significant part of the music was considered lost. They started somewhere in the 70s (and continue to this day!) previously unknown Offenbach manuscripts surfaced, and critical editions appeared on their basis - first Ezer (Oeser), then Kay. Now the musicologist Jean-Christophe Keck is preparing a new edition, which takes into account the latest findings. Thus, even Kay's edition has already become somewhat outdated. But to date, the proposed record is the closest to what Offenbach intended. In particular, the original order of acts (Olympia-Antonia-Juliet) has been restored here, all solo numbers of the Muse-Niklaus, the final apotheosis, etc. have been restored. As a compromise, the famous septet from the act of Juliet has been preserved (with changes in the text), although it was written about 25 years after Offenbach's death, as well as recitatives Giro, adapted by Kei.