Jacques Offenbach’s masterpiece «Tales of Hoffmann» has been beautifully reimagined in a ballet extravaganza by choreographer Nadezhda Kalinina and set designer Sergey Novikov. The premiere took place in Chelyabinsk in 2021, in collaboration with the French production center Franceconcert. The production tells the story of Hoffmann’s three unrequited loves: the mechanical doll Olympia, the fragile singer Antonia, and the cunning courtesan Juliette. Novikov’s set design is striking for its transformations: the gondola turns into a chandelier or a festive cake, and the golden tones are replaced by blue and red. The production was awarded the best artist’s work at the Szena 2021 festival.
Tales of Hoffmann
Reviews
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Tales of Hoffmann
A fantastic play inspired by the works of the German Romantic writer, it tells the story of the hero's love failures. Three dramatic passions, three unattainable women: the mechanical doll Olympia, the prima ballerina Antonia, and the greedy seductress Juliette. Will Hoffmann be able to resist the destructive influence of evil? Will he find self-confidence in the midst of dreams and reality? Will he be able to escape from his obsessive love as he travels from Munich to Venice?
The stage space transforms right before the audience's eyes: golden tones give way to blue and red, and the gondola transforms into a massive chandelier or a festive cake.Read more -
A beautiful extravaganza about Hoffmann in love
The famous opera by the French composer was transformed into a ballet extravaganza by the choreographer Nadezhda Kalinina. Her idea was realized on the South Ural stage in collaboration with Franceconcert (France).
The interaction between opera and ballet has a long history. Ballet was formed alongside opera (within it) and gained independence in many ways, focusing on its components such as music and plots. The paths of opera and ballet as exemplary arts have converged and diverged, and they still find common ground under the roof of academic theaters.…Read more -
Choreographer Nadezhda Kalinina: "I really want to stage Cinderella in Chelyabinsk"
The Glinka Theatre is coming to the end of the unique ballet festival "In Honor of Ekaterina Maksimova". Five theatres from major Russian cities have taken part in this large-scale event. The troupes from Omsk, Samara, Yoshkar-Ola, and Chelyabinsk have already performed their performances. The festival will close on June 5 with a performance of one-act ballets by the theatre from Ufa.
The Chelyabinsk theatre has prepared the premiere of the extravaganza "Tales of Hoffmann" for the XII festival. This project was made possible by the close cooperation between our theatre, choreographer-director Nadezhda Kalinina and the production centre Franceconcert.…Read more -
Flick-flack and magic glasses: the premiere of Hoffmann's Fairy Tales took place in Chelyabinsk
The ballet festival "In Honor of Ekaterina Maksimova" has opened in Chelyabinsk. For several days, the largest theaters in Russia from Omsk, Samara, Ufa, and Yoshkar-Ola will present their productions on the stage of the opera house. The Chelyabinsk company has prepared the premiere of "The Tales of Hoffmann," a ballet extravaganza that was made possible through collaboration with the French production group FRANCECONCERT.Read more -
The XII Ekaterina Maksimova Ballet Festival has started in Chelyabinsk
The Chelyabinsk Opera and Ballet Theatre has opened the annual festival "In Honor of Ekaterina Maksimova", founded by prima ballerina Tatiana Predeina. This year, troupes from various cities across the country will perform on the theatre's stage.
The opening ceremony of the "In Honor of Ekaterina Maksimova" festival was attended by the First Lady of the Chelyabinsk Region, Irina Tekskler. She congratulated the guests and ballet artists on the occasion and emphasized the scale of the festival in 2021.Read more -
The premiere of the ballet-fairy tale "Tales of Hoffmann" will open the International Ballet Festival in Chelyabinsk
"They always create something new and, unlike other companies, they are not afraid to experiment, take risks, invest money in new things," the choreographer emphasizes.
Nadezhda Kalinina, chief choreographer of the Omsk State Musical Theater, staged "Tales of Hoffmann" in Chelyabinsk in a total of six weeks, in two stages. She notes the amazing performance of the Chelyabinsk troupe, as well as its willingness to cooperate and experiment.Read more -
The Chelyabinsk Festival "In Honor of Ekaterina Maksimova" will open with a premiere
The new project by the Chelyabinsk Opera and Ballet Theatre was created in collaboration with the French production centre Franceconcert. This is the third collaboration: previously, the audience was able to see the ballet "Ida. The Love and Passion of Ida Rubinstein" and the cantata "Carmina Burana".
The choreographer and director of the production "Tales of Hoffmann" is also Nadezhda Kalinina, a silver medalist of the I Federal Festival "Theatrical Olympus", a laureate of the VIII International Theatre Forum "Golden Knight", and the V All-Russian Festival "Volga Theatre Seasons".
"For me, "E.T.A. Hoffmann's Tales" is an absolutely brilliant opera.…Read more -
The grand premiere of the Chelyabinsk Theatre will open the XII Ballet Festival in Honor of Ekaterina Maksimova
This is a new project of the Chelyabinsk Theater and the French production center "Franceconcert". Earlier, thanks to this collaboration, the ballet "Ida. The Love and Passion of Ida Rubinstein" and the ballet-cantata "Carmina Burana". The choreographer of the play "Tales of Hoffman" was also Nadezhda Kalinina, silver medalist of the First Federal Festival "Theatrical Olympus", winner of the VIII International Theater Forum "Golden Knight" and the V All-Russian Festival "Volga Theater Seasons".
"For me, Hoffmann's Tales is an absolutely brilliant opera. It took a lot of time to adapt the plot for ballet, taking into account the specifics of this genre," says the choreographer.…Read more -
The XII Chelyabinsk Ballet Festival will be opened by a grand premiere
In Chelyabinsk, on May 27 and 28, the XII International Festival "In Honor of Ekaterina Maksimova" will be opened by a grand premiere, the ballet-fairy tale "Tales of Hoffmann," according to the press service of the Opera and Ballet Theatre.
This is a new project by the Chelyabinsk Theatre and the French production center "Franceconcert." Previously, this collaboration resulted in the creation of the ballet "Ida. The Love and Passion of Ida Rubinstein" and the ballet cantata "Carmina Burana."Read more