from Act I of the French opera
Les Contes d'Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto: Jules Barbier
Voice Part: tenor Fach: lyric tenor
Setting: The parlor room of Spalanzani the scientist, 19th century
Synopsis: Spalanzani the inventor and Coppélius the magician have created Olympia, a human-like mechanical doll. From afar, Hoffmann has seen Olympia and, not knowing that she is a mechanical doll, he falls in love with her. He describes how they will share their love, asking her to open her heart to love's rays.