Hoffmann-Olympia's Aria-"Doll Song"-Christiane Boesiger

[MoriGalRo]

This is interesting. Not what I'm use to for an opera. It kind of reminds me of Repo the Genetic Opera in the way it's presented, the darkness to it. I like it. 

[akherousia]

i feel sorry for offenbach and the opera... this is utterly terrible

[cesarciprian]

Sorry again I also wanna say that the Lucia mad scene of Christiane Boesiger

is simply amazing.. If is the same theater producers congratulations!!!!

Not all bad critics :)

Best wishes

[cesarciprian]

you try to be different...thats ok but you are too different from the original idea.....At the end you only call atention, but not for a good interpretation of the opera...

In my opinion you have killed Hoffman here.....Actors are really good, music, everything is very good but this is not hoffman idea...I dont see love... I see a disaster..I dont wanna be destructive because is a good idea. but it is too different from what I expected to see.

Anyway congratulations because at least is opera

[cesarciprian]

PART 2

I am very young but in my opinion this kind of interpretation is for people who are bored of having seen this opera too many times..

Olympia doing a fellation???? whats that???too much for olympia

Is a good idea for a new opera, but in my opinion, not for an old one

[KitanaiBaishunfu]

This is kind of scary to watch... I like the interpretation but I don't care for her voice...

[larachen]

Wow - a total love it or hate it response thread. I loved it; unexpected innovation, but in a way that highlights some core themes in the scene - exploitation, the line between human and dead, morbid desire. Who says adorable coloratura can't be creepy? Makes me really curious what the director did with Antonia's weird illness. Off to search....

[CurzonRoad]

Hello gmmix: As you point out, very interesting, very different. Now when I play Mabel Garrison's excellent 1916 recording, THIS performance by Christiane Boesiger shall be utmost in my mind! Many thanks! * * * * *

[gmmix]

Interesting variation on the way the aria is generally sung (and performed ; - ) at 6:03. Christiane Boesiger has a pleasing voice, one worth hearing. The unique staging probably is useful to her in that her rendition prevents her from being forgotten/ lost among the vast number of other Doll Songs

and coloraturas here on YouTube. A favorite recording of this aria from years back is the old Victor 78 by Mabel Garrison. Anyone else familiar with this disc? 5 STARS for Christiane's courage

[Manric0]

I agree with gmmix. I have seen (and been in) many productions of this show, and this staging is unique. I applaud Ms. Boesiger's courage to do a scene like this, not just because of its graphic nature, but also because it requires so much physicality from her when she has to sing, which is not easy at all. This is a long way from my other favorite version (Luciana Serra in the Covent Garden version about a million years ago, with Domingo.)

[gentlemanmi1]

A very bad scenography, an horrible and disgusting play! Christiane Boesiger your fine body isn't enough !

[malus7]

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

[rupertbergmannsinger]

Liebe Christiane Boesinger, die Inszenierung ist durchaus gewöhnungsbedürftig aber toll gesungen und gespielt ! Herzliche Grüße RB

[rupertbergmannsinger]

Liebe Christian Boesinger, die Inszenierung ist durchaus gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber toll gespielt und gesungen ! Herzliche Grüße RB

[tararep]

She's like a monkey that has been trained to submit to her master's will. Contributes to the voyeurism of the whole scene.

[bellasoprana]

the voice is pretty good...but the scene is absolutley pitfull...i am sorry for her

[bellasoprana]

THIS IS HORRIBLE!!! i can not imagine who could think of such a scenario...this is the worst think i've evern seen..better to sit still and do nothing alse than singing ....than doing such painfull and disagrable act!

[paminaase]

Why should we always think Olympia as a gorgeous doll ? The staging should be creative and dynamic. I think an insane , a sick or a prostitute Olympia contributes to the dynamics more than the traditional doll version.

[mrlammermoor]

I totally agree with paminaase. if you think about it, Olympia is nothing more than an object Spalanzani wants to make money with...

but people who go to opera usually don't want to see the truth behind a pretty surface (the "doll")

[paminaase]

These operas have been played for ages and then it wasn't allowed to show the facts so frankly.

I think now we need to see things that are different from the original and the common.

The music is the same so something should be changing on the stage!

[wenarto]

20 stars Christiane, while mine is 1 star LOL, you are a true opera singer, thanks for reviewing my comedy....you are better than Patrizia Cioffi...and others.

[joanabanyeres]

Vous chantez tellement bien, comme c'est dommage cette production. les metteurs en scène ne savent plus qu'inventer. Hoffman peut-être est fou mais la poupée est de son invention elle n'est pas folle Elle n'existe pas..

[BebeJumeau]

This references the pioneering French psychiatrist Charcot whose spectacular lectures featured extreme performances from his severely afflicted female patients. Long before the mentally ill had rights, these lectures were highly exploitative, but were acclaimed in the name of "science". Freud travelled from Vienna to attend these sessions and they were a fashionable sensation as well attracting upper class visitors. The spirit of Charcot is here critiqued and channelled.

[operagirl81]

That was very disburbing.

[classicfairy]

Is this a kind of" Girl Interrupted" ???? So brutal are the people there....Very scary..What a torture to watch this...

Such a shame for that beautiful voice....

[yalematt]

Wow? I'm really not sure what I make of that. It's definitely an disturbing staging of Hoffman, but it isn't unlikeable. I'm creeped out and entranced by it at the same time. I guess you really have to hand it to the director for making his audience completely rethink one of the standards.

[moniminica]

Ella canta genial, pero escenicamente es un montaje muy feo, un poco desagradable

[gpeddino]

This staging is quite shocking, but I actully think it's a pretty interesting turn to the usual way of portraying Olympia. All actors were great, and Boesiger's voice was amazing.

[lakinella]

yeah...very bad directing idea here.

boo :(

[sour7lemon]

Why is this version done like this! Its so sad!!! i cant stand to watch it.. i feel so bad for olympia