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"Tales of Hoffmann" by Jacques Offenbach will transport opera lovers to Paris, Munich and Venice when West Bay Opera stages the fanciful work from Oct. 12 to Oct. 21 at Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.

Christopher Bengochea takes the lead role as the poet Hoffmann, and Rochelle Bard takes on the roles of Hoffmann's female interests: Olympia, Antonia, Giulietta, and Stella.

This is the opera company's sixth production of the work, which is sung in French, with English titles from a new translation prepared for the local production.

West Bay Opera General Director Jose Luis Moscovich will conduct. The opera will be directed by Ragnar Conde, a Mexican stage and film director and recent Merola graduate.

Performances are on weekends, with no performances on Oct. 13 or 19.

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