"Tales of Hoffmann"

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 6, 23 August 1929, Page 6

"Tales of Hoffmann"

Studio Production of Famous Opera

ISTENERS will no doubt have pleasant recollections of the last perform-~ ance of the Wellington Orpheus Society, and will be pleased to hear that this talented combination will be heard again on Monday evening. The Society on this occasion will present Offenbach’s masterpiece, "The Tales of Hoffmann." ‘The opera is full of char ung melody. The famous and everhaunting "Barearolle" is well known, as also is the "Doll Song" in a lesser degree, but apart from these numbers, there is the "Mirror Song," sung by Dapertutto; "Dove that I Cherish," sung by Antonia in -the third: tale; the "Buffo" aria, sung by Coppelius; and a host of ther always popular songs and concerted pieces. ’ "The Doll Song" is « beautiful waltz air. Alas, suddenly the spring runs down und the automaton has to be. wound up. (One hears the. mechanical noise.) At once the voice is again brilliani, with delightful vocal gymnastics: Little wonder the susceptible poet falls in love. "Th. Barcarolle," as its title indicates, is a boating song, and the rhythm lends, itself to the movement of: a swaying gondola. Dreamy. and melancholy, the musie suggests te still canals of Venice on a moonlight night whc lovers drift over those romantic waters. ‘The Orpheus Society has been fortunate in its choice. of soloists, among whom are :- : Mr. Claude Batten Miss Hileen isiggins Mr. J. B. Pearson. Mr. Charles Edwards Mrs. Amy Woodward ; Mr. Ray Kemp Miss Jeanette Briggs Mr. Dan Foley Miss Gretta stark The conductor is Mr. Harison Cc k, The Society’s very efficient chorus can be expected to give a good account of itself. Miss Hazel Rowe and. Mr. H. Brusey will accompany at separate pianos. . Synopsis of the Opera. »J ACQUES OFFENBACH ‘was the*:-w of a German-Jewish "antor. He began ‘his career as a violoncello player, oe: = in 1888 cau.e to Paris when seventeen years of age. In time he became ti proprietor of 4 theatre of his own, which he named "Les Bouffes Parisiens." All Hurope came to laugh and haye their ears tickled by the one and only Offenbach. Hoffmann is a poet who has been unfortunate in his loves. In turu he has given his heart to a pink and white doll, a courtesan, and a silveryoiced singer. ‘The first comes to pieces, the second laughs and leaves him, the third sings herself to death .o please him. . . The scene of the prologue is a students’ tavern in Nuremberg, where the poet is pleased to boast of these affairs, and the three incidents are pictured in the following three acts, an epilogue ending the play. The evil genius who appears in three different guises, as Coppelius, Dapertutto, ~ and Miracle, is the cause of Hoffmann’s disappointment in each case, Act I introduces us to Olympia, a life-sized and wonderful mechanical doll. She talks and. walks and sings. A magic pair of spectacles is given t, Hoffmann by Coppelius in order to deepen the illusion. Hoffmann loses his heart, and will not believe that she-is not fler> and blood, until the deception is exposed by the doll being broken. Act II carries us to Venice and the Grand Canul in moonlight. The Lady Giulietta carelessly casts her eyes on the poet. ite boasts that he is proof against her wiles, dnd promptly loses his heart and head. So much so that, thinking to win the lady for himself, he challenges her elderly protector, "Scilemil, and kills him, only to find that this suited Giulietta well, as she had another lover waiting for her. Hoffmann sees them floating away in a gondola, while Dapertutto gloats over the situation. 7 ; eT wt i.L-Living quietly in the country, trying to recove. from a isting complaint, we find the beautiful Antonia of the silver voice. At the risk of death’ she has been forbidden to'sing. To her comes Hoffmann, and as usual falls in love. Urged on by the vil Miracle, she sings, Jt: is a ‘dove, ‘not ‘2 swan -song,- but it.is her last. She dies in Hoffmann’s arms. ‘ * The epilogue tells us that loffmann will in future confine himself to wine and song. The students fill their goblets the brim. The curtain falls upon ani uproarious carousal, . : ~"y