Australian superstar Jessica Pratt to shine in new The Tales of Hoffmann world premiere
July 11 – 22, 2023 | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Following in the great Dame Joan Sutherland’s footsteps, internationally renowned Jessica Pratt will make history when she sings all four soprano roles in the world premiere of Damiano Michieletto’s new production of The Tales of Hoffmann which opens at the Sydney Opera House next month.
Homegrown superstar soprano Jessica Pratt returns to Australia to make multiple role debuts as all four of Hoffmann’s leading ladies. Just as Dame Joan was at the time, Pratt is currently one of few sopranos in the world capable of tackling this fiendishly difficult repertoire, including the famous Doll Song, making it an operatic event not to be missed.
Italian director Damiano Michieletto’s brand new production marks the first co-production with the Royal Opera House that Opera Australia will build and create locally in its Surry Hills workshop. This is also the first time this partnership will stage a premiere season in the Sydney Opera House.
Longtime collaborators Alessandro Carletti will light elaborate sets designed by Paolo Fantin and matching costumes by Carla Teti, which will combine to transport the characters and audience into Hoffmann’s three worlds. This accomplished creative team was last applauded in Australia for its creative reimagining of Il Viaggio a Reims in 2019.
Based on the stories of German romantic author and composer E.T.A Hoffmann, Offenbach’s greatest and last work follows a tipsy Hoffmann narrating the fanciful stories of his four great loves, his elusive muse and the evil which follows him.
Accomplished Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón Rivas will make his role debut as the titular character Hoffmann following his brilliant Opera Australia debut earlier this year as Rodolfo in La Bohème. Having performed at some of the finest opera houses in the world, Croatian bass-baritone Marko Mimica will also make his Opera Australia and role debuts playing all four villains.
Several Opera Australia principal singers will also make role debuts including Agnes Sarkis, Jennifer Black, David Parkin, Iain Henderson, Tomas Dalton, Luke Gabbedy, Sian Sharp, Anthony Mackey and Adam Player, performing alongside Richard Anderson who will reprise one role and perform a new to complete the leading cast.
Acclaimed French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire will return to Sydney, following his success with OA’s Don Giovanni earlier this year, to guide the principal singers, the Opera Australia Chorus and Orchestra through Offenbach’s intoxicating mix of emotion and dazzling music in this mini marathon of an opera.
Creatives
Conductor -Guillaume Tourniaire
Director -Damiano Michieletto
Set Designer -Paolo Fantin
Costume Designer -Carla Teti
Lighting Designer -Alessandro Carletti
Projection Designer- Vandal
Choreographer -Chiara Vecchi
Assistant Directors- Eleonora Gravagnola &
Shaun Rennie
Cast
Hoffmann- Iván Ayón Rivas
Olympia/Antonia/Guilietta/Stella Jessica Pratt
Coppelius/Dapertutto/Dr Miracle/Lindorf Marko
Mimica
Nicklausse -Agnes Sarkis
Antonia’s mother -Jennifer Black
Spalanzani -Iain Henderson
Crespel -David Parkin
Nathanaël -Tomas Dalton
Hermann -Luke Gabbedy
Frantz/Andres/Cochenille/Pitichinaccio Adam
Player
Schlemil- Richard Anderson
The Muse- Sian Sharp
Luther -Richard Anderson
La Harpe -Anthony Mackey
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra
Performance information
Evenings at 7.00pm
Jul 11, 13, 15, 18, 20
Afternoon at 12.00pm
Jul 22
Running time
Approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes
including two intervals
Performed in French with English surtitles
Proudly supported by The Tales of Hoffmann Syndicate
Bookings
Adult tickets from $81 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
Joan Sutherland Theatre
Sydney Opera House
*A co-production between Opera Australia, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Opera National De Lyon and Fondazione Teatro La Fenice di Venezia.
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