‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ now available on Blu-ray and DVD

Christian Van Horn stars as the Four Villains in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, now available on Blu-Ray and DVD from Unitel Classica. Recorded live at the Salzburg Festival in 2024, Mariame Clément’s production reimagines the titular Hoffmann as a Hollywood film director, framing the vignettes as a science fiction B-movie, costume drama, and more. 

Van Horn has performed the Four Villains all over the world, including The Metropolitan Opera and the Opéra national de Paris. In this performance, Operawire praised his “sonorous” singing and “charming” characterization, with the Financial Times saying, “Van Horn takes to the roles of baritone baddie (Lindorf/Coppélius/Dr Miracle/Dapertutto) with relish.”

Van Horn joins a phenomenal all-star cast, including tenor Benjamin Bernheim in the title role, soprano Kathryn Lewek as Olympia/Antonia/Giulietta, and mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey as Niklausse. Marc Minkowski conducts the Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor and Wiener Philharmoniker.