ENO 10 February 2012

Richard Jones has provided us with so many superb and provocative productions over recent years that it is difficult to know quite what went wrong with this new presentation of the Tales of Hoffmann. Giles Cadle’s design adapted intelligently for the range of venues required and provided an apt metaphor for the constant references to mirrors and illusion. Costumes and lighting were effective throughout and singing was of a very high standard. Part of the problem was the conducting which for much of the evening lacked bite and authority. Anthony Walker has done better than this and it was only really the end of the Antonia scene that came to life with any impact.

The chorus responded with panache to the director but there were times when they seemed to be going through all too familiar motions rather than living the experience.

Barry Banks was heroic as Hoffmann, Georgia Jarman found remarkable differences of approach to the four heroines, Christine Rice made more of Nicklausse than one might have thought possible and Clive Bailey was suitably villainous. But it never quite took off with the impact that, for example, the WNO Meistersinger, Hansel or Wozzek did.

If Hoffmann is Offenbach’s finest work – which in itself is arguable – this production did not go far enough to prove the point. BH