Michael Kaye

Of all operas in the standard repertory, none has had a more complicated genesis and textual history than Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann. Based on a highly successful 1851 play inspired by the short stories by the German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, the work occupied the last decade of Offenbach’s life. When he died in October 1880, the work was being rehearsed at the Opéra-Comique. At once cut and rearranged, the work was performed from the start in versions that ignored the composer’s final intentions. Only a few decades ago, when previously unavailable manuscripts came to light, it became possible to reconstitute the score in its real form. Vincent Giroud and Michael Kaye’s The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' tells the full story for the first time in English. After discussing how the work of Hoffmann became known and influential in France, the book includes little-known sources for the opera, especially the complete Barbier and Carré play, in French and English. It describes the genesis of the opera. The annotated libretto is published in full, with the variants, for the two versions of the opera: with spoken dialogue or recitatives. Essays explain what was done to the opera after Offenbach’s death, from the 1881 Opéra-Comique production to more recent restoration attempts. There is also a survey of Les contes d’Hoffmann in performance from the 1970s to the present, and supplementary information, including discography, filmography, and videography. The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' is intended to appeal to anyone interested in the work, specialists or non-specialists. Audiences, musicologists and students of French opera and opéra-comique will find it of particular interest, as will opera houses, conductors, singers, directors, and dramaturgs involved in performances of the opera.

Of all operas in the standard repertory, none has had a more complicated genesis and textual history than Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann. Based on a highly successful 1851 play inspired by the short stories by the German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, the work occupied the last decade of Offenbach’s life. When he died in October 1880, the work was being rehearsed at the Opéra-Comique. At once cut and rearranged, the work was performed from the start in versions that ignored the composer’s final intentions. Only a few decades ago, when previously unavailable manuscripts came to light, it became possible to reconstitute the score in its real form. Vincent Giroud and Michael Kaye’s The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' tells the full story for the first time in English. After discussing how the work of Hoffmann became known and influential in France, the book includes little-known sources for the opera, especially the complete Barbier and Carré play, in French and English. It describes the genesis of the opera. The annotated libretto is published in full, with the variants, for the two versions of the opera: with spoken dialogue or recitatives. Essays explain what was done to the opera after Offenbach’s death, from the 1881 Opéra-Comique production to more recent restoration attempts. There is also a survey of Les contes d’Hoffmann in performance from the 1970s to the present, and supplementary information, including discography, filmography, and videography. The Real 'Tales of Hoffmann' is intended to appeal to anyone interested in the work, specialists or non-specialists. Audiences, musicologists and students of French opera and opéra-comique will find it of particular interest, as will opera houses, conductors, singers, directors, and dramaturgs involved in performances of the opera.

The Bible is about Jesus. No, duh, you might be thinking. But what I mean is the whole Bible is about Jesus, not just the gospels and the rest of the New Testament. The whole thing from Genesis to Revelation, including all the Old Testament stories and all the prophets, are all about Jesus. It's not just history. It's History. But when we ponder Jesus, it's only natural that we gravitate to those parts in the Bible where He was either in bodily form on the earth or being discussed by those who knew Him personally or knew of Him back then. So, if we know it's all about Him, why has the Old Testament been approached so differently? For it is almost as if it's been read like it was before Jesus existed. Of course, we all know that's not true. For Jesus has always existed. He has been, is now, and always will be. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. But when we study the Old Testament, do we not usually see it as the story of God, the Creator of the universe? Do we not see the Old Testament as being about the story of mankind leading up to Jesus? While that is true, it is but a limited view. To view it with a wider lens, let's look at a passage from the gospel of Luke, chapter 24. Jesus had already gone to the cross. He had already died. He had already been buried. And then, amazingly, He had been seen again, alive, by Mary Magdalene and the other women. Then starting at verse 13 and ending with verse 27, we read the famous account known as the road to Emmaus. There, on that road, two men were walking. They were rather dejectedly talking of all the recent events concerning Jesus because they had not yet heard He was risen from the grave. These two were joined by another, the Jesus, Himself, but His identity was hidden from them. Jesus, after catching up on the news, then began to tell them all about Himself. He began to share His testimony, His story, with the other two, but not from the perspective of the last few days, weeks, or even years. No, He did it like this. And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling/ But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

When Karen Hoffmeister suddenly and mysteriously goes missing from her home, her strange disappearance sets in motion a tangled web of intrigue, duplicity, treachery and puzzlement. Riddle weaves a tantalizing thread through the lives of those involved with Karen, culminating in an astonishingly startling conclusion.

The analysis and exclusive data that help Standard & Poor’s professionals find hot stocks—now available to youThe Standard & Poor’s Guide to Selecting Stocksreveals the stock selection methods of Standard & Poor’s—the preeminent global provider of independent, highly valued investment data, valuation, analysis, and opinions. Clear descriptions give you the guidance to screen for stocks that meet criteria essential to receiving a STARS recommendation, from earnings momentum, to historic reaction to interest rate changes, earnings quality, governance superiority, and more.

Scott spent an enjoyable, relaxing summer last year at Camp Pioneer, but he could hardly expect the unlikely series of horrible and fascinating events that were to take place this summer. Events that would change both Scott and Camp Pioneer forever. Scott’s entry into the annual camp boat race was a mind-boggling lesson of a lifetime.