Prologue
Luther's Wine Cellar in Berlin

The Muse of Poetry, Goddess of the Arts, appears. She declaims her love for the poet Hoffmann (Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, a familiar German romantic poet and composer, 1776-1822). She has protected him through three unfortunate affairs and now decides to save him for his poetic mission, since he has fallen in love again. This time, he adores the Italian prima donna, Stella, who sings in Don Giovanni, which is being performed in the adjacent theater. The Muse changes herself into the student Nicklausse, Hoffmann's friend.
The City Councillor, Lindorf, enters with Stella's servant, Andrés. Lindorf buys from Andrés a letter from Stella to Hoffmann. In this letter, she speaks of her love for the poet and encloses the key to her room, where she expects to meet him after the performance. Lindorf wants to prevent this rendezvous. A noisy group of students bursts in. Hoffmann and Nicklausse join them during the performance of Don Giovanni next door. Hoffmann appears bitter and depressed. Stella has reminded him of his three past unfortunate adventures in love. The students ask him to sing for them the humorous song of Kleinzach, a poor ugly dwarf. While obliging them, Hoffmann's mind suddenly wanders far away to his love. He offers to relate the story of his three unhappy love affairs, which are told in the three following acts:

Act I
Spalanzani's Physics Laboratory in Bologna

Hoffmann becomes the apprentice of Spalanzani, an eccentric physicist and inventor. He falls in love with Spalanzani’s “daughter” Olympia, a clock-work doll fabricated by Spalanzani and Coppelius, an optometrist specializing in the making of magic lenses. Through a pair of glasses which Hoffmann buys from Coppelius, the doll appears alive to him in spite of Nicklausse’s warnings. Spalanzani pays Coppelius for his partnership in the doll’s construction with a bad check. At a party which Spalanzani gives to present his doll, Hoffmann convinces himself that Olympia returns his love. Coppelius swears to avenge himself for Spalanzani’s betrayal: while dancing with Hoffmann, the doll spins out of control. Hoffmann’s glasses break and Coppelius smashes the doll. Hoffmann collapses in sorrow and shame.

Intermission

Act II
Crespel's Home in Munich

Antonia, the only daughter of the widower Crespel, wishes to become a singer as her mother had been. Crespel, aware of Antonia’s weak constitution, fears that her love of singing may bring about her death. Antonia promises reluctantly never to sing again. Crespel orders his deaf servant, Franz, to let no one enter his house. Hoffmann secretly meets Antonia after months of separation. When Crespel enters suspiciously, Antonia leaves the room, but Hoffmann, in hiding, witnesses the sudden arrival of Dr. Miracle, an evil genius who had caused the death of Antonia’s mother. Crespel tries in vain to throw Miracle out. Miracle diagnoses Antonia’s health in absentia, using an empty chair as the patient. Crespel finally succeeds in ridding himself of his nightmarish guest. Antonia returns and promises Hoffmann she will never sing again. After Hoffmann has left, Miracle appears to Antonia as the evil part of her conscience; she is torn between her love for Hoffmann and the glamour of an artistic career. Miracle conjures the voice of her late mother and makes Antonia burst into song. Crespel finds his daughter dying. He accuses Hoffmann of having caused her to sing. In his despair, he wants to kill him, but Nicklausse intervenes. Miracle pronounces Antonia dead, and Hoffmann mourns.

Intermission

Act III
Giulietta's Palace in Venice

Hoffmann is among the guests of Giulietta, a courtesan. Dappertutto, Giulietta's satanic acquaintance, gives her a diamond necklace to make her obey his command. With the help of a magic mirror she must deliver Hoffmann's soul to Dappertutto. Hoffmann falls passionately in love with Giulietta, who succeeds in taking his reflection from him in the mirror. He duels with Schlemil, Giulietta's former lover, who has the key to her room, and kills him. Hoffmann takes the key from Schlemil's body, but Giulietta drifts mockingly away in her gondola, with the dwarf Pittichinaccio in her arms. Nicklausse tears Hoffmann away before the arrival of the police.

Epilogue
Luther's Wine Cellar in Berlin

Hoffmann has finished his tales. The Don Giovanni performance in the adjacent theater is over and the students leave. The prima donna Stella enters. Hoffmann, intoxicated, does not recognize her. Lindorf offers Stella his arm. Hoffmann remains alone as the Muse reappears and inspires him to renew his allegiance to poetry.