The Tales of Hoffman turned out to be one of BLO’s finest productions in years.

MFA

After days on end driving back and forth to the mall, I figured it was time for a change. So instead of heading north to New Hampshire, I turned the truck south towards the city to enjoy some fine arts. My first stop was was Boston’s venerable Museum of Fine Arts.

The museum was hosting an exhibition of portraits from mid-century photographer Yousef Karsh. He is most famous for his black-and-white portraits of WWII era military leaders, politicians, and Hollywood stars. Striking in their life-size proportions, these photos often accompany historical articles written about the subjects.

Of course, there were more than just the Karsh photos on display. The MFA houses one of the finest collections of American Colonial and Impressionist art. Read more about my visit by clicking here.

BLO

A short ride on the Green Line dropped me into familiar surroundings – Boston’s famed Theater District, home of the intimate Shubert Theater. The Boston Lyric Opera was in the midst of its run of Jaques Offenbach’s only grand opera, The Tales of Hoffman.

Described as a tour-de-force, Tales exposes the three lost loves of a young Hoffman as he agonizes in a basement bar over his current love Stella, who is performing an opera in the theater above the bar. Hoffman sings the stories of Olympia, a robot who looks real through magic glasses, Antonia, a singer afflicted with her mothers fatal condition, and Giulietta, a courtesan who only wants to steal Hoffman’s spirit at the request of another lover.

The BLO production of the piece was superb, with MC Escher-themed sets that captured the industrial style of the times, and outrageous yet tasteful costumes reflecting the tenor of each scene. All four female leads were performed ably by the same singer, a feat often sought but rarely accomplished in this difficult role. Hoffman’s portrayer was equally up to the task, as were the subordinate roles. BLO’s male chorus was powerful as always, yet sang with a light and airy bounce that defied its male machoness. The orchestra (led in this production by local hero Keith Lockhart) was a joy to hear.

So all in all it was a good day. I’ve decided to repeat Culture Day two or three times a year, based on the opera schedule. Check back here for more culture blogging.