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Jules Barbier

Writing

Jules Barbier

Born March 8, 1825 · Paris, France

Died January 16, 1901 · aged 75

No biography available.

Known For

The Tales of HoffmannThe Tales of Hoffmann · 1951
The Tales of Hoffmann
★ 7.11951
MovieMusicFantasy
A melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer.
Charles Gounod: Faust @ Bavarian State Opera, MunichCharles Gounod: Faust @ Bavarian State Opera, Munich · 2026
Charles Gounod: Faust @ Bavarian State Opera, Munich
2026
MovieMusicHistory
Gounod's Faust at the Bavarian State Opera: Jonathan Tetelman plays Faust, the scholar who makes a pact with Mephistopheles (Kyle Ketelsen) before seducing Marguerite (Olga Kulchynska). The unfortunate woman descends into madness but ultimately achieves redemption. Lotte de Beer directs this production, which marks Nathalie Stutzmann's debut in Munich as conductor.
The Metropolitan Opera: Roméo et JulietteThe Metropolitan Opera: Roméo et Juliette · 2017
The Metropolitan Opera: Roméo et Juliette
★ 8.02017
MovieMusicDrama
Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo are opera’s classic lovers in Gounod’s lush Shakespeare adaptation. Director Bartlett Sher’s “brilliant and inspired new production … is a revelation” (Huffington Post), and has already won acclaim for its vivid 18th-century milieu and stunning costumes during runs at Salzburg and La Scala. Emmanuel Villaume conducts the sumptuous score.
Roméo et Juliette - Wiener StaatsoperRoméo et Juliette - Wiener Staatsoper · 2017
Roméo et Juliette - Wiener Staatsoper
★ 6.02017
MovieMusic
Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Metropolitan OperaLes Contes d'Hoffmann - Metropolitan Opera · 2009
Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Metropolitan Opera
★ 7.02009
MovieMusic
Live from the Metropolitan Opera 19 December 2009.
Les contes d'Hoffmann - Opéra Bastille novembre 2016Les contes d'Hoffmann - Opéra Bastille novembre 2016 · 2016
Les contes d'Hoffmann - Opéra Bastille novembre 2016
★ 9.02016
MovieMusicRomance
The Metropolitan Opera HD Live Gounod's Romeo et JulietteThe Metropolitan Opera HD Live Gounod's Romeo et Juliette · 2007
The Metropolitan Opera HD Live Gounod's Romeo et Juliette
★ 8.02007
MovieMusicDrama
The world’s most famous love story comes to operatic life with superstars Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna playing the star-crossed young couple. The abandon and ardor of their performances brought audiences to their feet in both the opera house and in movie theaters. And the unique, up-close-and-personal camerawork takes the viewer onstage to witness some of the production’s most memorable images and sultriest moments as never before.
Hoffmanns ErzählungenHoffmanns Erzählungen · 2011
Hoffmanns Erzählungen
★ 8.02011
MovieDramaFantasy
Live performance, Bayerische Staatsoper, 2011. The Tales of Hoffmann (French: LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN) is an opéra fantastique by Jacques Offenbach that combines three short stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann into a haunting whole: a melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer. One of the questions this opera poses for any director is how to link the 'tales' of Hoffmann's three lost loves together and knit them satisfactorily into the Prologue and Epilogue. In this production, Richard Jones solves the puzzle by turning it into an autobiographical journey which ends with a grand meet-up of all the characters Hoffmann has encountered: for once, Hoffmann is not presented as a rollicking kind of drunken story-spinner, but rather a sad-eyed, sobered-up depressive, who reaches for the bottle only because his disastrous love life has gone wrong yet again.

Filmography

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Hoffmanns ErzählungenHoffmanns Erzählungen · 2011
Hoffmanns Erzählungen
★ 8.02011
MovieDramaFantasy
Live performance, Bayerische Staatsoper, 2011. The Tales of Hoffmann (French: LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN) is an opéra fantastique by Jacques Offenbach that combines three short stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann into a haunting whole: a melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer. One of the questions this opera poses for any director is how to link the 'tales' of Hoffmann's three lost loves together and knit them satisfactorily into the Prologue and Epilogue. In this production, Richard Jones solves the puzzle by turning it into an autobiographical journey which ends with a grand meet-up of all the characters Hoffmann has encountered: for once, Hoffmann is not presented as a rollicking kind of drunken story-spinner, but rather a sad-eyed, sobered-up depressive, who reaches for the bottle only because his disastrous love life has gone wrong yet again.

Writer

Les Contes d'HoffmannLes Contes d'Hoffmann · 1981
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
★ 6.91981
MovieDramaMusic
Seeking to exorcise the failure of his current love affair, the poet Hoffmann tells the tales of his three past loves - the doll-like Olympia, the high-class courtesan Giulietta, and the ambitious but delicate Antonia - and recalls how each was thwarted by the evil influence of his rival. In this production by the distinguished film director, John Schlesinger, with spectacular designs by Maria Bjornson and William Dudley, Offenbach's nightmare world is brought to life. The all-star cast is headed by Placido Domingo as Hoffmann: his three loves are Ileana Cotrubas, Anges Baltsa and Luciana Serra and the manifestations of his rival are sung by Geraint Evans, Robert Lloyd, Siegmund Nimsgern and Nicola Ghiuselev. The score, which includes such favourites as the "Barcarolle" and the "Doll's Song", is conducted by Georges Pretre.

Writer

The Metropolitan Opera: The Tales of HoffmannThe Metropolitan Opera: The Tales of Hoffmann · 2024
The Metropolitan Opera: The Tales of Hoffmann
2024
MovieMusic
After a celebrated career as a composer of lighthearted operetta, Jacques Offenbach turned his hand to more serious fare—only to die before his one true opera was completed. That work, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, was based on a play that strung together a collection of stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann and cast the famed poet as the protagonist of his own tales. In this performance from the 2024–25 Live in HD season, French tenor Benjamin Bernheim stars as Hoffmann, four times unlucky in love. Alongside him as the objects of his affections, soprano Erin Morley is the high-flying automaton Olympia, mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine is the Venetian courtesan Giulietta, and soprano Pretty Yende is both the diva Stella and the ill-fated songstress Antonia. Bass-baritone Christian Van Horn portrays the four nefarious Villains who outwit Hoffmann at every turn, and mezzo-soprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya is Hoffmann’s Muse and his companion Nicklausse, conducted by Marco Armiliato.

Writer

Faust – Opéra de LilleFaust – Opéra de Lille · 2025
Faust – Opéra de Lille
2025
MovieMusic
Few operas have enjoyed such an enviable fate as Gounod's Faust. Well received at its premiere, followed by international success, which still makes it the most performed French opera in the world today, just behind Carmen. But should we take this Faust literally? Or should we see it, in the twist of the fable, as a celebration of pleasures? The audience can enjoy all the excesses, intoxicated by the music... without risking damnation. In Opéra de Lille’s production, this contradiction does not escape astute analysis of director Denis Podalydès. Podalydès and his distinguished team tackles Goethe's tragic hero, using Jules Barbier's spoken dialogues, which were part of the work when it was first performed in 1859, to bring out all its ambiguities.

Writer

Dinorah, or The Pardon of PloërmelDinorah, or The Pardon of Ploërmel · 2002
Dinorah, or The Pardon of Ploërmel
2002
MovieMusicDrama
Giacomo Meyerbeer's pastoral opera,based on a Breton tale, is the tale of DINORAH who has gone mad because her bridegroom Hoël has disappeared during their wedding. This production, performed as part of Théâtre Impérial de Compiegne's purpose of reviving obscure French opera, is the only version of 'Dinorah' available on DVD, but it is a great production! The painterly pastoral settings and décor and rustic costumes are very easy on the eye. Opera traditionalists who dislike modern stagings will be delighted to know that this is a traditional production. Pierre Jourdan's stage direction is charming and always involving, never once falling into static movements or gestures, gratuitous distaste and irrelevance. With Isabelle Philippe, Armand Arapian and Frédéric Mazzotta. Conducted by Olivier Opebeek.

Writer

The Tales of Hoffman - National Opera Company (INBAL)The Tales of Hoffman - National Opera Company (INBAL) · 2021
The Tales of Hoffman - National Opera Company (INBAL)
★ 7.02021
MovieDramaComedy
Opera in three acts, a prologue and an epilogue, by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), with a libretto in French by Jules Barbier (1825-1901), based on a work that Barbier himself and Michel Carré (1821-1872) had written based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822). Approximate duration: 2 h 45 min Recommended for those over 15 years old. The young poet Hoffmann, accompanied by Nicklausse, his alter ego and confidant, is in a tavern next to the theatre where Mozart's Don Giovanni is being performed. During the opera's intermission, some diners arrive at the bar who, upon seeing the poet, encourage him to sing and tell them the story of his famous love affairs. Hoffmann finally gives in and shares with them the stories of Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta. They, absorbed in the poet's stories, remain in the tavern, forgetting about the opera performance.

Writer