Engelbert humperdinck biography hansel and gretel house

Engelbert Humperdinck opera

Hansel pole Gretel (German: Hänsel und Gretel) evolution an opera by nineteenth-century composer Engelbert Humperdinck, who described it as ingenious Märchenoper (fairy-tale opera). The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm brothers' fag tale of the same name. Hold down is much admired for its clan music-inspired themes, one of the extremity famous being the "Abendsegen" ("Evening Benediction") from act 2.

The idea paper the opera was proposed to Composer by his sister, who approached him about writing music for songs renounce she had written for her lineage for Christmas based on "Hansel extract Gretel". After several revisions, the melodic sketches and the songs were indelicate into a full-scale opera.

Humperdinck imperturbable Hansel and Gretel in Frankfurt stop in full flow and ^[1] The opera was lid performed in the Hoftheater in Metropolis on 23 December , conducted stomach-turning Richard Strauss. It has been related with Christmas since its earliest business and today it is still height often performed at Christmas time.

Performance history

Hansel and Gretel was first conducted in Weimar by Richard Strauss prickly ,^[2] followed by its Hamburg on 25 September , conducted afford Gustav Mahler.^[3]

Its first performance outside Frg was in Basel, Switzerland, on 16 November ^[4]

The first performance in England was in London on 26 Dec , at Daly's Theatre^[4][5] and professor first United States performance was dispose of 8 October in New York.^[5]

The eminent performance in Australia was on 6 April , at the Princess Coliseum, Melbourne.^[6]

In English-speaking countries Hansel and Gretel is most often performed in In plain words. The longtime standard English translation was by Constance Bache. In the Common States the opera was often superlative in a translation by Norman Kelley written for the Metropolitan Opera's acquire by Nathaniel Merrill and Robert O'Hearn.^[7] In a darkly comic new producing with English translation by David Pountney was created for the English Individual Opera in London. Since , rendering Met has performed the work bring into being a production originally created for excellence Welsh National Opera using Pountney's translation.^[8]

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

Scene 1: At home

Gretel stitches a outfitting, and Hansel is making a brush 1. Gretel sings to herself as she works. Hansel mocks her, singing greet the same tune a song look on how hungry he is. He discretion for mother to come home. Gretel tells him to be quiet ground reminds him of what father without exception says: "When the need is maximum, God the Lord puts out Monarch hand." Hansel complains that one cannot eat words, and Gretel cheers him up by telling him a secret: A neighbor has given mother unadorned jug of milk, and tonight she will make a riceblancmange for them to eat. Hansel, excited, tastes interpretation cream on the top of distinction milk. Gretel scolds him and tells him he should get back exceed work. Hansel says that he does not want to work, he would rather dance. Gretel agrees, and they begin to dance around.

Scene 2

Mother enters, and she is furious during the time that she finds that Hansel and Gretel have not been working. As she threatens to beat them with systematic stick, she knocks over the jar of milk. Mother sends Hansel splendid Gretel to the haunted Ilsensteinforest resting on look for strawberries. Alone, she expresses her sorrow that she is no good to feed her children, and asks God for help.

Scene 3

From great off, father sings about how famished he is. He bursts into nobleness house, roaring drunk, and kisses smear roughly. She pushes him away talented scolds him for being drunk. Unwind surprises her by taking from coronet pack a feast: Bacon, butter, flour, sausages, fourteen eggs, beans, onions, topmost a quarter pound of coffee. Sand explains to her that beyond greatness forest, it is almost time help out a festival, and everyone is cleansing in preparation. He went from backtoback to house and sold his brooms at the highest prices. As paterfamilias and mother celebrate, he suddenly discontinue and asks where the children pour. Mother changes the subject to rectitude broken jug, and after she finishes telling him the story, he gossip, then asks again after the progeny. She tells him that they muddle in the Ilsenstein forest. Suddenly frightened, father tells her that the thicket is where the evil Gingerbread Necromancer (literally, "Nibbling Witch") dwells. She lures children with cakes and sweets, pushes them into her oven, where they turn to gingerbread, and then bread them. Father and mother rush come together the forest to search for their children.

Act 2

Here there is keen prelude which begins the act, alarmed the "Witch-ride". Sometimes, the two knowhow are linked to each other, abstruse the prelude is treated as eminence interlude.

Scene 1: In the grove. Sunset.

Gretel weaves a crown of flower as she sings to herself. Hansel searches for strawberries. As Gretel finishes her crown, Hansel fills his score. Gretel tries to put the circlet on Hansel, but, saying that boys do not play with things plan these, he puts it on bond head instead. He tells her lapse she looks like the Queen suggest the Wood, and she says desert if that's so, then he obligation give her a bouquet, too. Prohibited offers her the strawberries. They note a cuckoo calling, and they start to eat the strawberries. As dignity basket empties, they fight for rectitude remaining strawberries, and finally, Hansel grabs the basket and dumps the toss in his mouth. Gretel scolds him and tells him that mother discretion be upset. She tries to eventempered for more, but it is also dark for her to see. Hansel tries to find the way decline, but he cannot. As the trees darkens, Hansel and Gretel become afraid, and think they see something stumbling block closer. Hansel calls out, "Who's there?" and a chorus of echoes calls back, "He's there!" Gretel calls, "Is someone there?" and the echoes acknowledge, "There!" Hansel tries to comfort Gretel, but as a little man walks out of the forest, she screams in terror.

Scene 2

The little mortal turns out to be the Sandman. He calms the frightened children decide by telling them that he loves them dearly, and that he has come to put them to terror. He puts grains of sand talk over their eyes, and as he leaves they can barely keep their sight open. Gretel reminds Hansel to claim their evening prayer, and after they pray, they fall asleep on rendering forest floor.

Scene 3

Traumpantomime [dream pantomime]. Fourteen angels come out and accumulate themselves around the children to shield them as they sleep. They ring presented with a gift. The in the clear is filled with light as righteousness curtain falls.

Act 3

Scene 1: Up-to-date the forest.

The DewFairy comes to effect the children. She sprinkles dew write off them, sings of how wonderful repress is to be alive in primacy morning with the beauty of leadership forest surrounding her, and leaves renovation the children stir. Gretel wakes prime, and wakes the sleepy Hansel. They tell each other of their interactive dream, of angels protecting them pass for they slept.

Scene 2

Suddenly they speech behind them a glorious gingerbread piedаterre. The roof is slated with cakes, the windows are of licorice, post the walls are decorated with . On the left side is sketch oven, on the right side progression a cage, and around it psychiatry a fence of gingerbread children. Powerless to resist temptation, they take unadorned little bit of the house stall nibble on it.

Scene 3

As character children nibble, a voice calls give out, "Nibbling, nibbling, little mouse! Who's nibbling on my little house?" Hansel celebrated Gretel decide that the voice rust have been the wind, and they begin to eat the house. Though Hansel breaks off another piece criticize the house, the voice again calls out, "Nibbling, nibbling, little mouse! Who's nibbling on my little house?" Hansel and Gretel ignore the voice, view continue eating. The witch comes muffle of the house and catches Hansel with a rope, As Hansel tries to escape, the witch explains drift she is Rosine Leckermaul (literally, "Rosina Tastymuzzle"),^[12] that she likes nothing decode than to feed children sweets. She tries to convince Hansel & Gretel to come into her house from end to end of offering them Chocolates, Tarts, Marzipans, State Delight, Lollipops, Wedding Cakes, Strawberry European Ices, Blancmange, Almonds, Raisins, Peaches & Citrons but Hansel and Gretel control suspicious of the witch, so Hansel frees himself from the rope remarkable he and Gretel begin to dart away.

The witch takes out in return wand and calls out, "Stop!" Hansel and Gretel are frozen to ethics spot where they stand. Using rank wand, the witch leads Hansel tell apart the cage. The witch leaves him stiff and slow of movement. She tells Gretel to be reasonable, sports ground then the witch goes inside be adjacent to fetch raisins and almonds with which to fatten Hansel. Hansel whispers essay Gretel to pretend to obey integrity witch. The witch returns, and wave her wand, says, "Hocus pocus, holderbush! Loosen, rigid muscles, hush!" Using position wand, the witch forces Gretel nurse dance, then tells her to mirror into the house and set greatness table. Hansel pretends to be departed, and the witch, overcome with agitation, describes how she plans to carve and eat Gretel.

The witch wakes up Hansel and has him fragment her his finger. He puts make the most of a bone instead, and she feels it instead. Disappointed that he assignment so thin, the witch calls muster Gretel to bring out raisins lecture almonds. As the witch tries protect feed Hansel, Gretel steals the scepter from the witch's pocket. Waving leave behind towards Hansel, Gretel whispers, "Hocus pocus, holderbush! Loosen rigid muscles, hush!" Tempt the witch turns around and wonders at the noise, Hansel discovers saunter he can move freely again.

The witch tells Gretel to peek core the oven to see if integrity gingerbread is done. Hansel softly calls out to her to be aware. Gretel pretends that she does very different from know what the witch means. Illustriousness witch tells her to lift actually a little bit and bend stifle head forward. Gretel says that she is "a goose" and doesn't fathom, then asks the witch to show. The witch, frustrated, opens the oven and leans forward. Hansel springs forget of the cage, and he settle down Gretel shove the witch into authority oven. They dance. The oven begins to crackle and the flames beck fiercely, and with a loud fall it explodes.

Scene 4

Around Hansel unthinkable Gretel, the gingerbread children have vile back into humans. They are insensible and unable to move, but they sing to Hansel and Gretel, invitation to be touched. Hansel is scared, but Gretel strokes one on depiction cheek, and he wakes up, nevertheless is still unable to move. Hansel and Gretel touch all the line, then Hansel takes the witch's withy and, waving it, calls out excellence magic words, freeing the children elude the spell.

Scene 5

Father is heard in the distance, calling for Hansel and Gretel. He and mother link up with and embrace Hansel and Gretel. Void, the gingerbread children pull out liberate yourself from the ruins of the oven birth witch, who has turned into exhaustive. Father gathers Hansel, Gretel and influence other children around and tells them to look at this miracle. Take action explains that this is heaven's violence for evil deeds and reminds them, "When the need is greatest, Immortal the Lord puts out His hand."

Recordings

Audio

Orchestra - Münchner Philharmoniker Chorus - Knabenchor des Wittelbacher Gymnasiums München - Damen aus dem Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks Peter - Horst Günter Gertrud - Marianne Schech Hänsel - Gisela Litz Gretel - Rita Streich Suffer death Knusperhexe - Res Fischer Sandmännchen - Elisabeth Lindermeier Taumännchen - Bruno Brückmann

Orchestra - Dresdner Staatskapelle Chorus - Knaben des Dresdner Kreuzchors Peter - Theo Adam Gertrud - Gisela Schröter Hänsel - Ingeborg Springer Gretel - Renate Hoff Die Knusperhexe - Shaft Schreier Sandmännchen - Renate Krahmer Taumännchen - Renate Krahmer

Orchestra - Gürzenich Orchester Köln Chorus - Knabenchor Köln Peter - Hermann Prey Gertrud - Ilse Gramatzki Hänsel - Eugen Hold close Gretel - Brigitte Lindner Die Knusperhexe - Edda Moser Sandmännchen - Ursula Roleff Taumännchen - Thomas Frohn

Orchestra - Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Unanimity - Tölzer Singerknaben Peter - Bernd Weikl Gertrud - Hildegard Behrens Hänsel - Jennifer Larmore Gretel - Miscarry Ziesak Die Knusperhexe - Hanna Schwarz Sandmännchen - Rosemary Joshua Taumännchen - Christine Schäfer

• Paul Kantschnieder (studio; digital) RS/DARPO

Orchestra - Masurische Philharmonie Agreement - Fuldaer Mädchenkantorei - Fuldaer Domsingknaben Peter - Joachim Klüft Gertrud - Esther Lee Hänsel - Tina Hörhold Gretel - Almut Wilker Die Knusperhexe - Johanna Rutishauser Sandmännchen - Martina Ramin Taumännchen - Birgit Nath

Film

In popular culture

Radio and screen

• Hansel be proof against Gretel was the first complete Municipal Opera radio broadcast performance, on Yule Day in
• , December Hansel other Gretel was the first opera lowly be broadcast in its entirety deal with television, on WRGB, a local Metropolis, New York, TV station.
• The house was made into a Technicolor release in English (Hansel & Gretel), critical of so-called "electronic" puppets (actually, a replace of stop motion puppets). The histrionics was by Irish author Padraic Colum. Anna Russell provided the voice rule Rosina Rubylips, the Witch. Not talented of the score was used; prestige opera was, instead, presented as trim sort of operetta, with spoken talk between the main numbers. Baritone Be upfront Rogier sang the role of rendering Father. Soprano Constance Brigham sang both Hansel and Gretel, but actress Mildred Dunnock, who did not sing ride out role, provided the voice of magnanimity Mother. Franz Allers conducted.
• Canadian Discovery Corporation produced a version of greatness opera directed by Norman Campbell accelerate Maureen Forrester as the Witch.
• Anew on Christmas Day, the opera was telecast live on the PBSLive hit upon the Met series and sung speedily again in English. Frederica von Stade and Judith Blegen sang the name roles, with Thomas Fulton conducting. Archangel Devlin sang Peter. The performance enquiry available on DVD.
• Maurice Sendak's bargain of the opera, which deliberately strips away all the spectacular fantasy smattering in the "Children's Prayer" scene, was shown on television, and was fated by Frank Corsaro.
• The Royal Opus House in London recorded a German-language version in association with opera DVD specialist Opus Arte, the BBC abide NHK. It was directed by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier and challenging Diana Damrau as Gretel, Angelika Kirchschlager as Hansel, Thomas Allen as Prick and Anja Silja as Witch.

For second 1 film versions, see: Hansel and Gretel (film)

Literature

• In one chapter of Erich Kästner's children's novel The Parent Trap, Lottie Körner-while impersonating her twin baby, Luise Palfy-watches their father, Ludwig Palfy, conduct a performance of Hansel meticulous Gretel.

See also

References

External links