When I was in first or second grade, we had to participate in this opera. I have very few memories of it. I was listening to another channel talking about the fairy tale “The Sandman” by Hoffman written in 1817. Funny enough, the video never mentions the name Hoffman that I noticed, but something caught my attention that made me find this video: in the short story The Sandman, the main character meets an artificial human named Olympia and is given a special spyglass that changes how he sees the artificial human and makes him mistake her for real. Ultimately, Olympia is destroyed and the main character is beaten over the head with the doll’s (specifically) broken body… Sound familiar?
Hey thank you. My kids have an Essential Elements book 2 in our orchestra class and I wanted to look up a qyick synopsis for the opera since one of the songs on page 2 is the barcarolle.
Okay, a month ago I commentad that I liked Olimpia the best of the four. Coming to think of it again, I cannot decide. Each one of the three - Olimpia, Giulietta and Antonia - is possesing marvellous virtues, expressed strongly in appearance, voice and elegence. All you have to do is to find for each one the right singer, who you think can express these virtues good enough in all those ways.
Hahaha!! I don't blame you it is really hard to decide. And every singer and every performance will change your mind. I have changed my mind, about whole operas because of one specific performance and cast. I think that's one of the greatest things about theater, everyone has a chance to put there own creative spin on the story. Whereas in movies we don't really like when they remake them. (I do LOVE movies though)
@@VivsGreen And another thing: in the end of the video you called Stella "silent". Now, I'm not judging you or something, god forbids! I just thought you might wanna know a little more. In most versions, Stella really is silent. But in Offenbach's original version, right before Hoffmann rejects her in the Epilogue, she gets a final duet with Hoffmann. However, this duet wasn't performed in the premiere due to some really massive cuts. But it had premiered in the reconstruction of "Tales of Hoffmann" in 2003 at the Opera of Lausanne, with Marlin Miller as Hoffmann and Mireille Delunsch as the Four Heroines (Olimpia, Antonia, Stella and Giulietta). Here's a recording: th-cam.com/video/sLD6wJqQzkA/w-d-xo.html
It's a famous line from a play/movie "A Street Car Named Desire" and it has been a popular term in pop culture ever since. there is a famous scene from Seinfeld as well, referencing that line.
The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach introduced me to the realm of opera.
When I was in first or second grade, we had to participate in this opera. I have very few memories of it. I was listening to another channel talking about the fairy tale “The Sandman” by Hoffman written in 1817. Funny enough, the video never mentions the name Hoffman that I noticed, but something caught my attention that made me find this video: in the short story The Sandman, the main character meets an artificial human named Olympia and is given a special spyglass that changes how he sees the artificial human and makes him mistake her for real. Ultimately, Olympia is destroyed and the main character is beaten over the head with the doll’s (specifically) broken body…
Sound familiar?
Thank you so much, this was informative and fun.
great video! thanks
wow!
frank low Thank you :)
The reverse is more apposite; you brightened my day!
Thank you so much for that comment!! That makes me really happy :)
Glad to have you here!
My favorite Stella is obviously Antonia and my favorite Lindorf is none other than Dapertutto 😁 Scintiiiiiiille diamaaaaaaaant 😻🎶
Thank you so much for these videos! Really enjoying delving into the world of opera with a cup of tea with you :)
my pleasure I love making them! glad your enjoying them with a cup of tea :)
Hey thank you. My kids have an Essential Elements book 2 in our orchestra class and I wanted to look up a qyick synopsis for the opera since one of the songs on page 2 is the barcarolle.
So glad I could help!
05:28 To answer your question, I liked Olympia the best.
She is great! :)
Okay, a month ago I commentad that I liked Olimpia the best of the four. Coming to think of it again, I cannot decide. Each one of the three - Olimpia, Giulietta and Antonia - is possesing marvellous virtues, expressed strongly in appearance, voice and elegence. All you have to do is to find for each one the right singer, who you think can express these virtues good enough in all those ways.
Hahaha!! I don't blame you it is really hard to decide. And every singer and every performance will change your mind. I have changed my mind, about whole operas because of one specific performance and cast.
I think that's one of the greatest things about theater, everyone has a chance to put there own creative spin on the story. Whereas in movies we don't really like when they remake them.
(I do LOVE movies though)
@@VivsGreen
And another thing: in the end of the video you called Stella "silent". Now, I'm not judging you or something, god forbids! I just thought you might wanna know a little more. In most versions, Stella really is silent. But in Offenbach's original version, right before Hoffmann rejects her in the Epilogue, she gets a final duet with Hoffmann. However, this duet wasn't performed in the premiere due to some really massive cuts. But it had premiered in the reconstruction of "Tales of Hoffmann" in 2003 at the Opera of Lausanne, with Marlin Miller as Hoffmann and Mireille Delunsch as the Four Heroines (Olimpia, Antonia, Stella and Giulietta). Here's a recording:
th-cam.com/video/sLD6wJqQzkA/w-d-xo.html
FYI I thought you said mechanical dog for most of the video 😜 which could be a very interesting premise for the story 🤔
Hahaha!!! Very interesting indeed! 😜 Maybe one day they will make an opera like that!
04:08 By the way, you said "Hoffmann and Olimpia" while I'm quite sure you meant to say "Hoffmann and Antonia"
whoops! I filmed this so long ago now. I am sure you are right!
But why is this calling "Stella!!!" sounds familier? I think I already heard it once before
It's a famous line from a play/movie "A Street Car Named Desire" and it has been a popular term in pop culture ever since. there is a famous scene from Seinfeld as well, referencing that line.
@@VivsGreen
"Stella!!!"
"Olimpia!!!"
"Giulietta!!!"
"Antonia!!!"