Offenbach’s Les Contes D'Hoffman in HD at The Grand!

Ellsworth, Maine - The “Live in HD” high-definition simulcast series of productions from The New York Metropolitan Opera continues its 2014 – 2015 season at The Grand on January 31st  at 1 pm with a presentation of Les Contes D'Hoffman. The opera fantastique is Jacques Offenbach's classic (with libretto by Jules Barbier) based on short stories by E.T.A. Hoffman who is also the protagonist of the piece. Tickets are $26.00 for adults, $24.00 for Grand members and $19.00 for students (15 and under).

“The Met: Live in HD,” the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live transmissions offering a significant portion of the Met season to DownEast and MidCoast Maine communities, continues its ninth season with Offenbach's Les Contes D'Hoffman. This opera is based on several short stories by E.T.A. Hoffman including "Der Sandmann" ("The Sandman"), "Rath Krespel" ("Councillor Krespel", known in English as "The Cremona Violin"), "Das verlorene Spiegelbild" ("The Lost Reflection") from Die Abenteuer der Sylvester-Nacht (The Adventures of New Year's Eve) with the aria "Chanson de Kleinzach" ("Song of Little Zaches") in the prologue being based on the short story "Klein Zaches, genannt Zinnober" ("Little Zaches, called cinnabar"). Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo and American lyric tenor Matthew Polenzani take turn playing the tortured poet and unwitting adventurer of the title in the MET’s kaleidoscopic production. Abkhazian and Russian operatic soprano Hibla Gerzmava faces the operatic hurdle of singing all three heroines – each an
idealized embodiment of some aspect of Hoffmann’s desire. The American lyric Baritone Thomas Hampson sings the shadowy Four Villains. Director Bartlett Sher revives his 2009 production with the aid of Set Designer Michael Yeargan, Lighting Designer James F. Ingalls, Costume Designer Catherine Zuber  and Dou Dou Huang providing choreography. James Levine and Yves Abel conduct Offenbach’s sparkling score.

“The Met: Live in HD series” is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor, The Neubauer Family Foundation. Global corporate sponsorship of The Met: Live in HD is provided by Bloomberg. Transmission of The Met: Live in HD in Canada is made possible thanks to the generosity of Jacqueline Desmarais, in memory of Paul G. Desmarais Sr. The HD broadcasts are supported by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury home builder®. Bar Harbor Bank and Trust sponsors the season presentation at The Grand, with additional support from Webersinn Appraisal Company.

For more information on the Met opera at The Grand, please call the box office at 207-667-9500. For more information on events at The Grand visit The Grand website at www.grandonline.org or follow The Grand on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Grand-Auditorium/112755987339