The Tales of Hoffmann, presented by the Florida Grand Opera and opening at the Arsht Center Saturday night, is a 19th century, three-act opera by German-born French composer Jacques Offenbach.
Based on the short stories by German fantasy and horror author E.T.A. Hoffmann, with the French libretto written by Jules Barbier, Tales of Hoffman is the story of the poet Hoffmann and his drunken odyssey of love. He must chose between the Muse and her rival, Stella. Because the Muse is a supernatural broad, she uses all the power cosmic at her disposal (the spirit realm, disguises, spells, that sort of thing) to win Hoffmann's love. It's a lot like The Bachelor, except more ass-kicky and awesome.