“Hoffmann” is twice as effective when all four heroines and villains are sung by the same soprano and baritone respectively, and so this set has a leg up to begin with. Add to that just how good these two, and the conductor are, and it’s a winner.
Vina Bovy was a French soprano whose career at the Met was overshadowed by her contemporaries, Pons, Norena and Sayao. It’s a pity, too – she’s a marvelous singer: her Olympia is funny, her Giulietta seductive, and Antonia sweet and effective – and all are beautifully sung. The four villains find Lawrence Tibbett at his snarling best – with a hint of cruelty always running through his voice, these roles fit him like a glove; he’s missing only that essential French suavity. René Maison’s Hoffmann is the weak link – nasal and strained – but his musical instincts are good, and like Bovy, his French is impeccable. The remainder of the cast is fine, and Maurice Abravanel gets the best from the score and the players. This “Hoffmann” is an excellent addition to any collection.
