Hänsel und Gretel

The Wagnerian Engelbert Humperdinck is one of the most important figures in German fairy-tale opera. The success of a shortish “Märchenoper” composed to a libretto by the composer's own sister, Adelheid Wette, convinced him to write a full-evening children's opera based on the famous Brothers Grimm story, with slight departures from the original plot. The piece was immediately declared a masterpiece by Humperdinck's contemporary Richard Strauss, who conducted the fairy-tale opera at its Weimar premiere. Greeted with instant and enormous acclaim, the work went on to conquer the world. This production of the piece is being directed by the Spaniard Rafael R. Villalobos, winner of Opera Europa's directing competition in Graz.

Cast

Conductor
    János Kovács
Hänsel
    Gabriella Balga
Gretel
    Nánási Helga
Peter (father)
    Zsolt Haja
Gertrud (mother)
    Atala Schöck
Witch
    Bernadett Wiedemann
The sleep fairy
    Eszter Zavaros
The dew fairy
    Ingrid Kertesi

Credits

Libretto after the Grimms' fairy tale by
    Adelheid Wette
Hungarian text
    Frigyes Róna
Director
    Rafael R. Villalobos
Set designer
    Emanuele Sinisi
Costume designer
    Rafael R. Villalobos
Choreographer
    Csaba Sebestyén
Head of the Children's Chorus
    Nikolett Hajzer