Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921)


Hansel & Gretel 101:08
Märchenspiel (fairy tale) in three acts
Libretto by Adelheid Wette after a fairy-tale by the Brothers Grimm
English translation by David Pountney

DISC ONE
1 Overture 7:39

Act I
2 'Goosey goosey gander, the mouse in the straw' 2:57
3 'Down with the dumps, out with the grumps' 2:40
4 'Little brother dance with me' 3:39
Gretel, Hansel
5 'Hansel!' 2:15
Mother, Gretel, Hansel
6 'My jug all in bits' 1:40
Mother
7 'Ral-la-la-la, ral-la-la-la, light the fire' 6:27
8 'But wait, say where are the children?' 3:01
9 'But there's one, a crone, who lives alone' 2:35
Father, Mother

10 Prelude to Act II: The Witches' Ride 4:17

Act II
11 'A dwarf stood in the forest' 2:53
Gretel, Hansel
12 'Cuckoo, cuckoo' 3:16
Cuckoo, Hansel, Gretel
13 'Gretel, I think we've lost the way' 4:18
Hansel, Gretel, voices
14 'I am the little sandman' 2:39
Sandman, Hansel, Gretel
15 'Where each child lays down its head' 3:24
Gretel, Hansel
16 Pantomime 5:01
58:49

DISC TWO
Act III
1 (Introduction) 2:43
2 'When dew drops on the daisy' 1:40
Dew Fairy, Gretel
3 'I slept here? On a pine-tree bed!' 5:22
4 'Keep still! No sound!' 4:11
Gretel, Hansel
5 'Greedy little mousey, who's nibbling at my housey?' 2:00
Witch, Hansel, Gretel
6 'Hansel, don't be so greedy' 5:11
Gretel, Hansel, Witch
7 'Stop, Hocus pocus, witch's ground' 1:17
Witch
8 'Now Gretel, you're the sensible one' 5:23
Witch, Gretel, Hansel
9 'So hopp hopp hopp, galopp lopp lopp' 1:32
Witch
10 'Now wake up, it's time to eat' 3:51
Witch, Gretel, Hansel
11 'Hoorach! Now that the witch is dead' 2:40
Gretel, Hansel
12 'The dead arise, but cannot see' 4:05
Gingerbread Children, Gretel, Hansel, Father
13 'Father! Mother!' 2:16
Gretel, Hansel, Mother, Father, Gingerbread Children
42:19

Jennifer Larmore mezzo-soprano - Hansel
Rebecca Evans soprano - Gretel
Rosalind Plowright mezzo-soprano - Gertrude
Robert Hayward baritone - Peter
Jane Henschel mezzo-soprano - The Witch
Sarah Tynan soprano - The Dew Fairy
Diana Montague mezzo soprano - The Sandman
Sarah Coppen The Cuckoo
New London Children's Choir
Philharmonia Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras
Recorded in:
Blackheath Halls, London
22-27 November 2006
Producer(s)
Brian Couzens
Sound Engineer(s)
Ralph Couzens
Jonathan Cooper (Assistant)
Format: DDD
Bit Rate: 24 Bit / 96K