A Ghostly Encounter at the Vienna Opera before Christmas Eve

Some performances are shrouded in an air of mystery that both repels and attracts. Jacques Offenbach’s Les Contes d'Hoffmann is one such work. Known for his lively operettas, Offenbach made a surprising shift, taking on an opera inspired by the mystical visions of the great storyteller E.T.A. Hoffmann. This opera is filled with profound reflections on the choices between truth and deceit, love and artistic duty. The protagonist must peer behind the masks of those who call themselves friends to discern who might be in league with darker forces.

Offenbach was so consumed by this story that it became his final work—he passed away before completing the opera. Several musicians stepped in to finish it, but it remained so unique that no two productions are alike. In different theaters, Les Contes d'Hoffmann is performed in various versions—sometimes in two acts, sometimes in three, with different arrangements of scenes. But the mysteries don’t end there.

At the second performance of the opera in Vienna, a fire broke out, completely destroying the theater. This incident only added to the opera’s eerie reputation, akin to the legend of the Phantom of the Opera in Paris. For years, theaters were reluctant to stage it, but those who dared often found success. In the mid-20th century, London’s Covent Garden boldly took on the challenge, staging a production that introduced groundbreaking scenic techniques and forever changed the way opera was designed.

Nonetheless, caution remains: theaters continue to take extra fire safety measures when staging this opera. Meanwhile, Offenbach’s mesmerizing music captivates audiences, with motifs that have appeared in popular Disney films and numerous Hollywood productions. Even Sherlock Holmes, in one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels, was a fan of the opera—it helped him solve a particularly difficult and mysterious case.

Overcome your fear and let your curiosity guide you! We will be with you before, during and after the performance, which will take place on December 16, 2024, at the Vienna Opera, now restored after the infamous fire. Write to us—this will be our little secret to keep the dark forces from interfering with our plans.

Please contact us for details and booking.

Price starting from 400 euro, including opera ticket and cocktail party