Tales of Hoffmann (Vocal Score)

Offenbach Tales of Hoffmann Vocal Score (English / French)

The Tales of Hoffmann (Les Contes d'Hoffmann)

Libretto, based on the play of the same name by Jules Barbier and Michael Carre, by Jules Barbier.

New critical edition, based on original sources, by Fritz Oeser.

The purpose of the new edition was to discover the intentions of the author through the sources and to make it playable despite its fragmentary, quality.  Because the long searched-for manuscripts did, happily, come to light at last, this edition is fundamentally different from all others.  Moreover, it has the smallest number of editorial admixtures.  With the exception of Guiraud's additions every bar of the present version is derived from Offenbach.  The question of whether this edition was or is necessary is largely the concern of conductors, stage-directors and set-designers.  If they are interested in keeping a tradition alive then, after a hundred years, they deserve whatever support musicologY can provide.

- Vocal score French-English (AE333-02) and French-German (AE333-03) available for sale

- Critical Report German text (AE333-01) available for sale

- Full score and performace material (AE333-72) available for hire

- English translation by Walter Ducloux