The production of Les Contes d'Hoffman by film director John Schlesinger dates back to 1980. The performance at the time, with Plácido Domingo in the lead role, was a great success and was also broadcast on TV. Several revivals followed and in 2017 this performance was released on DVD, which received mixed reception. Vittorio Grigòlo (Hoffmann) is a handsome tenor with a pleasant voice, but he
… does not show impressive acting qualities here. It's hard to get sympathy for his character. Thomas Hampson, on the other hand, is a gifted singer-actor, who deserves credit for the dedication with which he portrays his four roles of angry genius (Lindorf / Coppélius / Dappertutto / Miracle). Hampson, however, was criticized for missing the bass for some of these roles. There is little to complain about the singers in this performance, making this DVD a good option for lovers of lavish costumes and sets (should the image quality of the 1980 film be too disturbing). (CP)more
