Ekaterina Gubanova - Nicklausse: Olympia Song

[Sasorisempai]

I saw "Tales of Hoffman" the other night at the Lyric Opera House with my family. It was a superb performance, with Hoffmann and Nicklausse at the helm. This scene (literally, the whole first act) is one of my favorites, with the gently teasing Nicklausse and the desperately in love Hoffmann, whose love with Olympia represents nearly a child-like infatuation. That being said, there is one last thing that beggars a question: What the Hell is Nicklausse doing with a guitar, and how did he get it?

[QueenBoadicea]

This would be a fine clip if it wasn't for that crown logo stuck in the lower right-hand corner like a designer tag. It reminds me of those logos I used to see on TV shows (back when I still had a TV). It is the most aggravating thing to have your view spoiled like that. >:(

[AdlerGurl1989]

I saw this on Wednesday night! This is one of my favorite Nicklausse scene! LOL

[ontologix]

@QueenBoadicea: A brave attempt to understand this scene. By 1881 most railway lines that exist today had been built (invention: 1815, 65 years before). Should not this opera be fantastique? This stage set is rather down to earth. At Spallanzani´s time no railways existed.To give you an idea what congenial fantasy can produce, visit this page:

myway.de/hoffmann/0910-breslau­.html

The pictures were taken at the Wroclaw Opera in Poland.

Looking forward to your response.

[QueenBoadicea]

@ontologix Thanks for your reply. It's odd; it didn't appear in my email and I usually get any replies to my YouTube entries there. Maybe my Yahoo! account is acting up--again.

[ontologix]

This is not the Olympia song. In this aria Hiffmann´s friend warns him of the mechanical doll. This song does not have a common name, but me might call it the "Cocorico Aria".

[RusSoprano]

Ekaterina is magnifique!!!

[snailysaurus]

It should be noted that, although this aria is often used in modern performances of Hoffmann, it was never Offenbach's intention to include it. He discarded it and replaced it with the more familiar "Une poupee aux yeux d'email". The orchestration used here is by Fritz Oeser, and it is highly unidiomatic. Audiences seem to prefer the earlier version heard here, however, despite its inauthenticity.

That being said, a FANTASTIC performance however.

[QueenBoadicea]

@snailysaurus I like both songs and can't say that I prefer one over the other. But it is a treat to be able to hear both songs performed in different productions during my lifetime.

[figaro1973]

great voice great tecnique but above all what a great artist!!!deserve an ovation!!!

[sopranoms]

beautiful French!

[Lucretino2602]

Ich bin sehr stolz darauf,sagen zu dürfen, mit einer solchen Ausnahmesängerin, großartigen Schauspielerin liebenswerten Kollegin, wie Ekaterina Gubanova, befreundet zu sein.

[ontologix]

Good voices, good acting by Ekaterina. I saw the talented Marcus Haddock in the - otherwise dreary production - in Vienna.

But can anyone please explain to me which function a railway engine has in a Hoffmann production?

[QueenBoadicea]

@ontologix I don't know the stage designer's intentions. But the railway was seen as a great invention of fin de siecle 19th century. It brought diverse peoples together, made travel swifter and was a marvelous boon to any industry seeking to bring its goods across great distances. As social, commercial and scientific venture, the device might be seen as visually pushing Spalanzani's constant mantra "Science, only science!", a deterrent to Hoffman's interest in poetry and music.

[065214377]

Stupid but very big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tubatuba25]

I love Marcus Haddock. I got a chance to meet him last semester and he is a brilliant teacher as well as performer.

[agrute]

Bravissima!

[Dormiglione]

Brava!