Humperdinck, Engelbert

Hänsel und Gretel (1893)

Duration: 165 minutes
Opera in two acts

Libretto by Adelheid Wette after the tale by the Brothers Grimm, in the English translation by Norman Kelley (E)

Scoring
Major roles: S,M,M(orT); minor roles: 2S,M,Bar; chorus (SA); ballet; 2.picc.2(II=corA).2.bcl.2-4.2.3.1-timp-perc-harp-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
12/23/1893
Hoftheater, Weimar
Company: Hoftheater Weimar

Roles

HANSEL	Mezzo-Soprano
GRETEL, his sister	Soprano
THE WITCH	Mezzo-Soprano
GERTRUDE, mother of Hansel and Gretel	Soprano
PETER, their father, a broom-maker	Baritone
SANDMAN	Soprano
DEW FAIRY	Soprano

Synopsis

At a woodcutter's house on the edge of the forest, Hansel and Gretel play while their parents are out. Their mother returns and accidentally knocks over the milk jug that contains the last sustenance in the house. Furious, she sends both children out into the forest to look for strawberries. Their father comes home to find them missing, and warns his wife about the dangers of the witch in the forest. They set out in search of them. Meanwhile Hansel and Gretel have become lost, and go to sleep guarded by angels. In the morning they wake up to discover a house made of gingerbread in the vicinity. They soon come across the owner – the witch – who proceeds to turn Gretel into a servant and starts fattening Hansel for the oven. Just before she can place him there, the children turn the tables and shove her in instead. They free the other child-victims (who have become gingerbread-children) in time for their parents to arrive and lead them in a hymn of thanksgiving.

Moods
Comic, Dramatic

Subjects
Magic/Mystery, Literary