The story of “Hänsel and Gretel” cannot only be read up in children’s books. For decade after decade the opera by Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) has magically attracted audiences of all ages, and especially in the Christmas season it is one of the public’s top favourites. In the staging of Andreas Meyer-Hanno it has now been in the repertoire of Deutsche Oper am Rhein since 1969 and has long achieved cult status. The performance has been seen by several generations. Some of those who once saw it are now coming back to see it again with their grandchildren, for each it is or was in many cases their first visit to the opera.
What primary-school kids have written to us is the proof that it has lost nothing of its fascination. Their letters, decorated with brightly coloured drawings, show that these youngsters are carried away not only by the Witch:

“It is lovely to heard people sing opera. Gretel was the best, along with Hänsel. The 14 angels were beautiful”.
Carina
“I liked it best when the witch jumped into the oven. But when I saw the gingerbread house, I wanted to go on stage at nibble at it”.
Opal
“I thought it was best of all when the witch flew through the air. But I know how it is done too. They did it with lights”.
Gregor

The composer’s sister Adelheid Wette had planned it as a nursery play for the family at home, but it ended up by being the fairytale opera par excellence, permanently popular since its first performance in 1893 not only because of the charm of the story, but also by means of a successful mixture of very refined late romantic scoring with well-loved melodies such as “Susie, dearest Susie”, “Brother, come and dance with me” or “On one leg in the woods stands a little man”. An opera for the young and for adults alike, for, as Humperdinck put it, “It’s really an story for children, but then we’re all children at heart“.

 
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Engelbert Humperdinck
(1854 - 1921)

HÄNSEL UND GRETEL
(Hansel and Gretel)
Fairy tale opera in three acts
Libretto by Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm brothers' "Hänsel und Gretel"
 
In deutscher Sprache mit Übertiteln
 

Musikalische Leitung Christoph Altstaedt
Inszenierung Andreas Meyer-Hanno
Bühne Gerda Zientek
Kostüme Inge Diettrich
Kinderchorleitung Justine Wanat
 
Hänsel Katarzyna Kuncio
Gretel Anett Fritsch
Gertrud Susan Maclean
Peter James Bobby
Hexe Wolfgang Schmidt
Sandmännchen Anna Lucia Richter
Taumännchen Anna Lucia Richter
Kinderchor Düsseldorfer Mädchenchor
Orchester Düsseldorfer Symphoniker