The Tales of Hoffmann was described by its composer Offenbach as an ‘Opera Fantastique’ and this Midland Opera production took him very much at his word. This unconventional interpretation took the audience into the world of silent movies where opera collides with the worlds of Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. Three love stories like you have never seen before; think not so much of unrequited love but of a world of invention with a touch of the Avengers where nothing is as it’s supposed to be.
In this production Giulietta was played as a glamorous 1920’s film star, the pawn of Dapertutto the studio boss. Dapertutto was intent on controlling Hoffmann, the biggest new talent in Hollywood so Giulietta was sent to steal Hoffmann’s soul.