Tales of Hoffmann

Scottish Ballet 1972/74; Australian Ballet, 1983: Asami Maki Ballet Tokyo, 1988

Production and Choreography: Peter Darrell
Music: Jacques Offenbach - Ballet Score: John Lanchberry   Lighting Design: Scottish Ballet: John B. Read; Australian Ballet: William Akers  

I had been working as Nico Georgias’ Assistant for several years when he sent me to see Pater Darrell, the Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet. To my surprise Peter invited me to design his new full length ballet based on the Offenabach Opera “Tales of Hoffmann”. I had already designed several smaller works but this was my first major commission and I designed both the scenery and costumes. The ballet premiered at the Kings Theatre Edinburgh on the 6 April, 1972 and was still being regularly performed and acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, until the end of the 1990s. The ballet, already acknowledged as a classic in its own time, is adapted from the story and music of Offenbach’s popular opera of the same name. The tales which span Hoffmann’s life from youth to old age tell of his four loves, first of an opera singer, then a life-like doll, next a ballerina and finally for an alluring courtesan. The original cast included Gordon Aitken, Peter Cazalet, Hilary Debden, Elaine McDonald, Patricia Rianne, Marian St Claire, Anne Allan, Michael Beare, Nicholas Carroll, Sally Collard-Gentle, Harold King, Anna McCartney, Amanda Olivier, Gernot Petzold, Hugh Rathbone, Paul Rayner, Bruce Steivel, Keri Stewart and dancers of Scottish Theatre Ballet. It was chosen for a Royal Gala Performance in Glasgow in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in March 1979.

The models and designs for the revised Scottish Ballet and Australian Ballet/Asami Maki productions are in the Special Collecction at the University of Glasgow Library. For Information Contact: julie.gardham@glasgow.ac.uk

C/f https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/12344