60 years later, ‘Les Contes D’Hoffmann’ returns to IU stage

IU Opera Theater celebrated 60 years of opera performance Friday night at the Musical Arts Center with Jacques Offenbach’s “Les Contes D’Hoffmann.” \nThe performance marked the 398th production in the IU Opera Theater.\nAs the lights dimmed to absolute darkness, the curtain opened and revealed a drunken Hoffmann wandering the stage. The audience was full of laughs as floating, dancing beer bottles taunting the inebriated Hoffmann were revealed – that is, until his muse came to his rescue and chased the beer bottles away. \nAt a tavern, Hoffmann recounts the tragic romances of his past to his friends. The first, Olympia was a lifeless doll, whom Hoffmann believed to be alive. The second lover, Antonia, wishes to become a singer like her mother, however, her father forbids her to sing, fearing that it will aggravate her fragile condition and kill her. Courtesan Giulietta, Hoffmann’s third lover, attempts to steal his soul and give it to her evil acquaintance, Dappertutto, in exchange for a diamond necklace.\nAs the opera progressed, the costuming became more detailed and extravagant. The makeup was plentiful for each character, especially in the case of Olympia, who’s makeup transformed her into the lifeless doll. Sophomore Sarah Carrel said she thought the costuming and makeup increased the believability of Olympia and her robotic form.\nAudience members said the dresses were appropriate for the time period and suited the characters. \n“The costuming was very elaborate,” audience member and IU student Kirsty Flora said. “It gave the opera that much more energy.”\nAt one point there was a “robotic” ball in which Hoffmann expresses his interest in and love for Olympia, not realizing she is a robot because of the glasses he is wearing, which make her appear to be human. This scene included dozens of characters all dressed in Victorian-style clothing, hair and makeup. \nEach act has a unique set that represents the three women portrayed. For example, during Act 1, the set consisted of elaborate clockwork representing the robotic side of Olympia. \nSophomore Sonae Choate, a first-time opera attendee, was impressed with the set design by IU faculty member C. David Higgins. \n“The set was very colorful and the entire opera was full of energy,” Choate said.\nCarrel said she thought the opera was “fabulous.” \n“It is definitely not what I had expected walking in tonight,” she said. “I expected to see something boring and stuffy, but it was actually really good and even quite funny.”\nItalian professor Mary Migliorelli enjoyed the Olympia act, particularly the part when Olympia was beheaded and her body ran around the stage headless.\n“The whole dynamic was funny,” Migliorelli said.\n“Les Contes D’Hoffmann” continues this weekend at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.\nTickets are on sale now at the Musical Arts Center box office, open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; at all Ticketmaster outlets; by phone through Ticketmaster at 333-9955 and online at http://music.indiana.edu/opera.