Hansel and Gretel (opera) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hänsel und Gretel |
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| by Engelbert Humperdinck | |
Scene at the Vienna State Opera, 2015
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| Librettist | Adelheid Wette |
| Language | German |
| Premiere | 23 December 1893: Hoftheater in Weimar |
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Hansel and Gretel (German: Hänsel und Gretel) is a famous opera by the composer Engelbert Humperdinck. An opera is a play where the story is told mostly through singing, with music played by an orchestra. Humperdinck called his work a Märchenoper, which means "fairy-tale opera."
The story for the opera comes from the well-known fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel" by the Brothers Grimm. Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, wrote the libretto, which is the text or story of an opera.
The idea for the opera began when Adelheid asked her brother to write music for some songs she had made for her children. These songs were based on the "Hansel and Gretel" story. Over time, these musical ideas grew into a full opera.
Humperdinck composed Hansel and Gretel in Germany between 1891 and 1892. The opera was first performed in Weimar on December 23, 1893. The famous conductor Richard Strauss led the first performance. This opera is often performed around Christmas time, a tradition that started right from its first shows. People especially love its folk music style, and a very famous part is the "Evening Benediction" from the second act.
Contents
Main Characters in the Opera
The opera features several important characters, each with a specific singing voice. Here are the main roles:
| Role | Voice type | First performance cast, 23 December 1893 Conductor: Richard Strauss |
|---|---|---|
| Peter, the broom-maker | baritone | Ferdinand Wiedey |
| Gertrud, his wife | mezzo-soprano | Luise Tibelti |
| Hansel, their son | mezzo-soprano | Ida Schubert |
| Gretel, their daughter | soprano | Marie Kayser |
| The Gingerbread Witch | mezzo-soprano | Hermine Finck |
| Sandman, the Sleep Fairy | soprano | Frl. Hartwig |
| Dewman, the Dew Fairy | soprano | Frl. Hartwig |
| Chorus of echoes | three sopranos, two altos | |
| Children's chorus | ||
| Ballet (14 angels) | ||
Opera Recordings and Films
Hansel and Gretel has been recorded many times, both as audio albums and as films. These recordings help people around the world enjoy the opera even if they cannot see it live.
Audio Recordings
- In 1929, the Manchester Children's Choir and the Hallé Orchestra recorded the "Evening Benediction." This song became very popular on the radio in the UK.
- The first full recording in English was made in 1947 by the Metropolitan Opera.
- A famous German recording from 1953 features Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Elisabeth Grümmer, conducted by Herbert von Karajan. Many other audio recordings have been made over the years by different orchestras and singers.
Film and Television Versions
- In 1931, Hansel and Gretel was the first opera ever broadcast completely on radio from the Metropolitan Opera.
- On December 23, 1943, it became the first opera to be shown entirely on television by a local TV station in New York.
- A Technicolor film version was released in 1954. This movie used special "electronic" puppets, which were a type of stop-motion animation.
- In 1981, the opera was shown live on PBS television as part of the Live from the Met series.
- Many other film and television versions have been created, including a 2008 recording by the Royal Opera House in London.
See also
In Spanish: Hansel y Gretel (ópera) para niños
