Oscarwining director John Schlesinger orchestrated this filmed recording of composer Jacques Offenbachs final operetta as performed by the Royal Opera in 1981 Worldrenowned tenor Placido Domingo stars as Hoffmann a lovestruck poet whose foolish romantic pursuits become tragic folly when he falls in love with a singing robot Luciana Serra a woman who sings herself to death Ileana Cotrubas and others who are destined to deceive him