The Tales of Hoffmann feature apparitions, mechanical dolls, troubled love stories and melancholy – but don’t worry, the mood is strictly buffo! Offenbach’s masterpiece has a long and complicated history and many variants, so the interpretation at the Kraków Opera is a perfect opportunity for its director Michał Znaniecki to create his very own vision, working alongside the conductor Tomasz Tokarczyk. There will be dazzling arias (Olympia performs a veritable coloratura obstacle course!) and the popular barcarolle, but the greatest challenge comes from bringing it all into a coherent whole.
The production, created in 2017, is full of pop culture references. The director refers to the screen creations of Stanley Kubrick, the futuristic concept of the “Black Mirror” TV series, and the theme of love for artificial intelligence in the science fiction thriller “Ex Machina” directed by Alex Garland. The scenography emphasizes the futuristic dimension of the production. “In the Krakow show, we are almost 20 years ahead of our current reality” – says the director Michał Znaniecki.
Direction, costumes: Michał Znaniecki
Musical direction: Tomasz Tokarczyk
Premiere: 9 June 2017
The performance held online on the PLAY KRAKÓW platform.
