Hansel und Gretel

Composer: Humperdinck, Engelbert

Librettist/Text Author: Wette, Adelheid

Libretto Source: Grimm, Jacob & Wilhelm

Libretto Source: Grimm, Jacob Ludwig

Conductor: Hofstetter, Michael

Orchestra: Dresden Staatskapelle

Chorus: Dresden State Opera Chorus

Chorus Master: Heinze, Andreas

Chorus: Dresden State Opera Children Chorus

Chorus Master: Heinze, Andreas

Die Knusperhexe: Vermillion, Iris

Gertrud: Vilsmaier, Irmgard

Gretel: Gabler, Anna

Hansel: Papoulkas, Antigone

Peter: Ketelsen, Hans-Joachim

Sandmannchen: Teuscher, Lydia

Taumannchen: Teuscher, Lydia

Set Designer: Toffolutti, Ezio

Costume Designer: Toffolutti, Ezio

Lighting Designer: Seeger, Jan

Choreographer: Trivett, Erica

Stage Director: Thalbach, Katharina

Television Producer: Drese, Christoph

Television Producer: Wochner, Eva

Television Director: Morell, Andreas

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Date of Production: 15-12-2006

Venue: Semperoper Dresden

Playing Time: 01:48:00

Catalogue Number: EuroArts5588

UPC: 880242558886

Synopsis

Hansel und Gretel

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First staged at the Weimar Court Theatre under the baton of Richard Strauss in 1893, who hailed it as "a masterpiece of the highest quality", Humperdinck's debut opera Hänsel und Gretel has remained a solid favourite since its 1893 première. Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) transformed Grimm's beloved fairy tale Hänsel und Gretel into opera entertainment for everyone from young children to the serious music lover; this is a tumultuous and joyful production for both children and adults. Director Katharina Thalbach cheerfully evokes a magic world of woodland sprites and candy dreams and creates an enchanting fantasy world filled with high spirits, fairytale fantasy and genial comedy. Recorded live at the world-famous Dresden Semperoper in December 2006, the production is also musically of the highest rank, with international soloists in the main roles, accompanied by the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden under Michael Hofstetter.