The Grimm fairy tale is well-known, Humperdinck's score oscillates between children's song and late romantic, opulent Wagnerian sound. Andreas Homoki's lovingly child-friendly production of the Christmas opera classic has been in the theatre's repertoire for over 25 years and continues to inspire children, parents and grandparents for the world of musical theatre.
Image gallery
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Thomas Blondelle als HexeRuth Tromboukis
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Markus Brück als PeterBettina Stöß
Markus Brück als Peter, Miriam Gordon-Stewart als GertrudBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als Gretel, Elbenita Kajtazi als Sandmännchen/TaumännchenBettina Stöß
Die Clowns, gespielt von unserer Statisterie.Bettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als Gretel sowie die Clowns, gespielt von unserer Statisterie.Bettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als Gretel sowie die Clowns, gespielt von unserer Statisterie.Bettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als Gretel, Jörg Schörner als HexeBettina Stöß
Jörg Schörner als HexeBettina Stöß
Jörg Schörner als Hexe, Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als GretelBettina Stöß
Jörg Schörner als Hexe, Stephanie Lauricella als HänselBettina Stöß
Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als Gretel, Jörg Schörner als HexeBettina Stöß
Markus Brück als Peter, Miriam Gordon-Stewart als Gertrud, Stephanie Lauricella als Hänsel, Kim-Lillian Strebel als Gretel sowie die Kinder des Kinderchores.Bettina Stöß
- Conductor: Friedrich Praetorius
- Director: Andreas Homoki
With
Artur Garbas, Maria Motolygina, Karis Tucker / Annika Schlicht, Meechot Marrero / Nina Solodovnikova, Burkhard Ulrich / Patrick Cook a. o.
About the work
Hansel and Gretel, children of a poor broom maker and his wife, are sent into the woods one day by their mother to pick berries – as punishment for larking around instead of doing their chores.
When their father arrives home bearing a bag full of treats after a successful working day, he berates his wife, because the woods are home to an evil witch.
The parents set off to look for the kids, who have meanwhile filled their baskets but then eaten all the berries themselves out of sheer hunger. They also realise darkness has fallen and they’re lost, so they lie down for the night and say their prayers, falling asleep and having a strange and wonderful dream.
In the morning they wake to see a cottage made of gingerbread and other sweetmeats. Nibbling at the house, they are surprised by the witch, who takes them captive, planning to bake the children in her oven. Instead, they play a trick on her and push her into her own oven.
The spell is broken and all the children who had been transformed into gingerbread by the witch regain their human form. The pair’s parents appear and the reunited family returns home.
For over a century Engelbert Humperdinck’s HANSEL AND GRETEL has enjoyed a reputation as one of the most popular operas for all the family.
Humperdinck could not resist rendering the story – a dramatic tale for children and adults alike – as a piece of musical theatre, a two-hour symphonic masterpiece peppered with hummable tunes.
Translated into over twenty languages, the work remains the first contact for many children with the world of opera.
The score does not conceal its debt to Wagner but does not rely on his aura in attracting the uninitiated either.
Evergreen numbers of the likes of “Ein Männlein steht im Walde”, “Abends wenn ich schlafen geh’, vierzehn Englein um mich stehn” or “Der kleine Sandmann bin ich” guide audiences through the exposition and remain lodged in the memory long after the auditorium has emptied.
About the production
Andreas Homoki and set designer Wolfgang Gussmann take a linear, child-friendly approach to the story, bringing a levity and poetic imagery to the opulent music that are best exemplified in the nocturnal woodland scenes.
There is no shortage of excitement and spine-chilling moments, and the dramatic appearance of the witch, eagerly awaited by younger audience members in particular, includes a humorous touch.
Children aged 8 and upwards can enjoy Humperdinck’s tale of good triumphing over evil, in which Gretel und Hansel, by virtue of pluck and imagination, free not only themselves but all the other kids from the clutches of the witch.
“Director Andreas Homoki is not about to exploit the opera to make precious psychological points or send ideological messages. He just wants to mount a musical play for kids. And that’s what he sets about doing – intelligently and playfully …” [DeutschlandRadio Köln]
Additional information
In German with German and English surtitles.
- Opera by Engelbert Humperdinck
- Libretto by Adelheid Wette
- First performed on 23rd December, 1893 in Weimar
- Premiered at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on 13th December, 1997
Pre-performance lecture (in German): 45 minutes prior to each performance
Participating artists
Friedrich Praetorius (Musikalische Leitung)
Andreas Homoki (Inszenierung)
Wolfgang Gussmann (Bühne, Kostüme)
Christian Lindhorst (Kinderchor)
Artur Garbas (Peter, Besenbinder)
Maria Motolygina (Gertrud, sein Weib)
Karis Tucker (Hänsel)
Meechot Marrero (Gretel)
Burkhard Ulrich (Hexe)
Sua Jo (Sandmännchen/Taumännchen)
Kinderchor der Deutschen Oper Berlin (Chöre)
Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin (Orchester)
Dates
December 2024
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