Tales of Hoffmann

< Prologue >
Middle-aged poet Hoffman waits for his lover, the prima donna La Stella, at a tavern outside the Opera House. La Stella appears with a letter intended as a message for Hoffman, but Councillor Lindorf (actually a devil ) intercepts it. Upon requests from his friends, Hoffmann begins to speak of his past loves.

< Act1-Olympia (The First Tale) >
After Hoffman puts on a pair of magical glasses from Spalanzani (actually a devil), he believes that a mechanical doll is actually a beautiful girl named Olympia. He falls in love with her and proposes marriage. Hoffmann dances with Olympia, but the mechanical doll eventually falls apart in his hands.

< Act2-Antonia (The Second Tale) >
Ten years later. The daughter of a piano teacher, Antonia has a weak heart but always dances to her lover Hoffman’s piano music anyway, so her worried father sends Hoffman away and calls for a doctor. Doctor Miracle (actually a devil) uses hypnosis to convince Antonia that she is a ballerina. He forces Hoffman to continue playing the piano, and so Antonia continues dancing. Antonia finally dies in Hoffmann’s arms.

< Act 3-Giulietta (The Third Tale) >
Having devoted himself to religion in his advancing age, Hoffmann visits the salon of Dapertutto (actually a devil). There, the courtesan Giulietta seduces him. His cross stolen and his reflection lost, Hoffman asks God for forgiveness. His reflection returns and Dapertutto and Giulietta both vanish.

< Epilogue >
Having finished his tale, Hoffmann falls asleep drunk. His lover La Stella appears, but she finds Hoffman passed out from drinking along with the crumpled and discarded letter. Disappointed by Hoffman, she leaves with Lindorf. Once awake, Hoffman recognises what has happened and is left standing alone.