Hoffmann, the eternally romantic poet, looks for love in all the wrong places. His first love is a mechanical doll, his second love is a sickly singer, and his third love is a prostitute. The devil seems to thwart him every time.
Troubadour Manrico, kidnapped and raised by gypsy Azucena, courts Leonora and she loves him. Count di Luna wants Leonora, vows to destroy Manrico, not knowing they are actually brothers.