Adelheid Wette facts for kids
Adelheid Catharina Maria Humperdinck Wette (born September 4, 1858 – died August 9, 1916) was a German writer, composer, and expert in folktales. She is best known for writing the story (called a libretto) for her brother Engelbert Humperdinck's famous opera, Hansel and Gretel.
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Life and Career of Adelheid Wette
Adelheid Wette was born in Siegburg, Germany. She was the youngest sister of the well-known composer Engelbert Humperdinck. Her father, Gustav Humperdinck, was a high school teacher. Her mother, Gertrud Hartmann Humperdinck, was the daughter of a church music director.
Adelheid loved reading old folktales and writing poems. In 1881, she married Dr. Hermann Wette. He also loved folktales and had even written stories for two operas himself.
Every year, Adelheid Wette wrote a play for her children. They would perform these plays for family celebrations. In 1888, she wrote a play based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Her brother Engelbert added some songs to it.
Creating Hansel and Gretel
In 1890, Adelheid wrote a play about Hansel and Gretel. This play was meant for her husband's birthday in May. In April, she wrote to her brother Engelbert. She asked him to write music for five songs in her play. These songs included a "cock-a-doodle-doo" song, a dance song, an echo song, a forest song, and a lullaby. She even gave him ideas for the rhythm of the dance song and a tune for the lullaby.
Engelbert quickly wrote music for two voices and piano. Over the next two years, with help from Adelheid and Hermann Wette, he made Hansel and Gretel into a full opera. This opera first opened in Weimar, Germany, on December 23, 1893. It is still Engelbert Humperdinck's most famous work today.
Adelheid Wette's Works
Adelheid Wette wrote several works, including plays and songs.
Stage Plays
- Frog King (1896)
- Hansel and Gretel (she wrote the story, or libretto)
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (she wrote the story, or libretto)
Poetry
- "Abends will ich schlafen gehn" (This means "In the Evening, I Will Go to Sleep")
Songs
- Deutsches Kinderliederbuch (1903) (This means "German Children's Songbook")
