![Jacques Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) [New York -- December 22, 1956: Richard Tucker, George London, Laurel Hurley, Lucine Amara, Belen Amparan, Charles Anthony, Mildred Miller, Sandra Warfield, James McCracken, Norman Scott, Paul Franke; Thomas Schippers]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51M5t1ElsmL.jpg)
On Walhall WLCD0305; 2 CD's; In the second season of this famous production, Tucker sings a terrific Hoffmann, and London takes over from Singher as the four evil nemeses. The women are good, Charles Anthony does a fine job with the character tenor roles, while the husband and wife team of Warfield and McCracken fills two of the other roles in this opera. And, Mildred Miller makes a dynamic Nicklausse. Thomas Schippers is the energetic conductor.
S**F
Great performance in perfectly acceptable sound
Another reviewer dismisses this set because of their perception of its sound quality. Collectors of vintage opera recordings, long familiar with less-than-perfect sound, need have no concerns here. This is a clear, full-bodied mono air-check. All the voices are instantly recognizable, the balance is satisfactory and honest. Tucker is in spectacular voice, little plagued by his later mannerisms, and London is spectacular, especially in comparison to his unhappy late-career recording under Cluytens. Schippers is a first-rate conductor. This should not be anybody's first choice for "Hoffmann", but it remains a wonderful performance.
D**R
Dreadful Sound
This review is for the Met. performance of the Tales of Hoffmann. The sound is so poor as to make these CDs absolutely umlistenable. The cast may be excellent but you cannot tell because the quality of sound is alarmingly wretched and probably the worst I have heard on any CD. This should never have been released. Avoid this monstrosity.
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