I don't know how often Simoneau performed Hoffmann onstage, but he made two recordings of it, this one for Vienna circa 1954 and a studio recording with Mattiwilda Dobbs and Heinz Rehfuss. He is tremendously good in the role. Other Hoffmanns suggest the manic-depressive nature of the poet more vividly, but few of them are as lyrical and romantic as Simoneau. His voice was captured here in its absolute prime too.Simoneau's wife was the fine Canadian soprano Pierrette Alarie whose Olympia is nearly as flawless as Mady Mesple's. She is charming and dazzling with lovely high notes and a keen sense of fun. Danco sings Antonia with ravishing tone and style and is one of the few singers who manage to make something of the little she is given to do as Giulietta. I think she also speaks Stella's two words in the Epilogue as well as the spoken monologue of the Muse of Poetry. Lucretia West sings Nicklausse handsomely as well as the voice of Antonia's Mother. London sings the villains with flair and style and sings an especially seductive "Scintille, diamant" (with a ringing top G at the end). Capecchi is a vivid and funny Spalanzani and Destain manages to give each of the servants individual color without going overboard. Schoenen contributes positively to a memorable performance. The volume level needs to be turned up, but otherwise the sound is quite good. There is some surface noise (probably from the original tapes) that is in every transfer I've heard of this performance.

excellent cast, sound ok, sometimes too hushed

An excellent performance; however, Treigle is still my favorite villains