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Arthur Baines played Councillor Lindorf in the prologue |
Tales of Hoffmann
(Friday performance)
| The autumn production of Preston Opera was Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, performed in the Playhouse Theatre Preston. The Opera is in three acts with prologue and epilogue. |
Arthur Baines played Councillor Lindorf in the prologue
Chorus in the merry drinking song
Chris Dodd as Hoffmann sings the legend of Kleinzac
Hoffmann's friend Nicklaus is played by Marie'Louise Lane
In Act I Coppelius,played by Keith Cawdron, sells Hoffmann magic glasses
Guests are introduced to inventor Spalanzani, played by Chris Elliott 
Spalanzani has created a lifelike doll Olympia, played by Louise Geatch
Olympia charms the guests and Hoffmann as she sings
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Olympia is accompanied by servant Cochenille, played by Ben Mayo |
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Nicklaus cautions Hoffmann |
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Hoffmann is in love!
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Hoffmann collapses after a wild waltz with Olympia
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Coppelius destroys the doll and Hoffmann finally realises she was a machine! |
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Act II. Nicklaus and the courtisan Giullietta, played by Natalie Bennett, sing the enchanting "Barcarolle" |
| The evil magician Dapertutto is played by David Palmer. He instructs Giullietta to steal Hoffmanns reflection (his soul) |
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Hoffmann falls for the courtisan |
| ..and she steals his reflection |
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The principals
sing a septet (six plus chorus) including Hoffmann's rival Schlemil
(far left), played by Ken Lewis, and servant Pittichinachio played by
Ben Mayo |
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Curtain call for Ken, Natalie and David |
| Act III. Singer Antonia is played by Catherine Lindsay |
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| Hoffmann loves Antonia and wonders why she is forbidden to sing |  |
| Evil
Dr Miracle is played by KeithCawdron. He deludes Antonia into seeing
her dead mother (played by Barbara Butcher) and persuades her to sing |
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Antonia dies watched by her anguished father (Arthur Baines) and his servant Franz (Ben Mayo) |
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The epilogue. Hoffmann drinks himself to a stupor whilst Nicklaus appears as his poetic muse. |
| Opera singer Stella (Barbara Butcher) finally appears but Hoffmann is "dead drunk" and she goes off withy Councillor Lindorf |
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Curtain call with conductor Colin Beeson (second left) and producer Geoff Horton. Students played by John Sangster and Les Gilligan on the right with Inn Keeper played by Ken Lewis |
| Colin Beeson acknowledges accompanist Malcolm Forbes-Peckham |
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