Vittorio Grigolo Stars in “The Tales of Hoffmann” at the Met

Jacques Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” (The Tales of Hoffmann) is back at the Metropolitan Opera in a sparkling production

Vittorio Grigolo is perfect for the role of E.T.A. Hoffmann in Jacques Offenbach’s "Les Contes d’Hoffmann." Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

NEW YORK—Jacques Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” (The Tales of Hoffmann) is back at the Metropolitan Opera in a sparkling production, directed by Bartlett Sher and starring tenor Vittorio Grigolo. They, plus a strong supporting cast, the excellent orchestra under conductor Johannes Debus and the chorus under Donald Palumbo, make this revival is a treat for opera lovers.

Offenbach (1819-1880) was a noted composer of operettas and his can-can from “Orphee aux Enfers” is one of the most recognizable pieces in French music. “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” was his most ambitious and serious work, but he died before completing it.

The Plot

The opera begins with a prologue in a tavern, where the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann is in love with an opera singer named Stella. He has a rival, Lindorf, with whom he exchanges insults. After this, Hoffmann embarks on the stories of his three lost loves.