Everyone seems to have their own version of Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann and Peter Maag was no exception. Basically he follows the traditional Choudens version of the score, but he (or someone else) has reorchestrated a lot of the score. He keeps the customary (at that time) order of the acts, but the Epilogue is rewritten slightly to include not only the Muse, but more Stella.Mady Mesple is a perfect Olympia. She sounds exactly like a mechanical doll. Some may be disappointed that, except for adding a top E-flat at the end of her song, she adds no ornamentation to the second verse. No matter: her waltz roulades are impeccable complete with the trill on the high D! Bakocevic is that rarity, a soprano Giulietta. She sings well, but isn't given very much to sing. Harper is a beautiful Antonia, rising to the challenge of the trio and nailing the final C#. She also offers an excellent trill and high D in her offstage cadenza.Konya sings a passionate, musical Hoffmann with ringing high notes. Bacquier is a formidable foe with a particularly demonic laugh. The other singers are equally good, especially Falzetti as the four servants and Gebelin as Crespel.The sound is very good and pitched correctly (as it wasn't on another label's release of this performance). If Hoffmann is one of your favorites, you should get this!

Great perfomance. An Otto Maag edition is used in this perfomance in french