Recorded Live At The Royal Opera House December 2008

Diana Damrau and Angelika Kirchschlager star in the
acclaimed 2008 production of Humperdinck’s famous fairytale
opera, in the company of two of Britain’s most revered
musical figures: Thomas Allen, playing the role of the Father,
and the legendary conductor Colin Davis. Directors Patrice
Caurier and Moshe Leiser combine their characteristic wit
and a dash of deliciously dark comedy with the opera’s
fairytale charm. Humperdinck’s music mixes catchy folk-like
songs with sumptuous instrumental colour, making the result
as tunefully approachable, musically memorable and visually
delightful as opera gets. Filmed in High Definition and
recorded in full Surround Sound.
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Hansel: Angelika Kirchschlager
Gretel: Diana Damrau
Gertrud: Elizabeth Connell
Peter: Thomas Allen
Witch: Anja Silja
Sandman: Pumeza Matshikiza
Dew Fairy: Anita Watson
Tiffin Boys’ Choir and Children’s Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: Colin Davis
Stage Directors: Moshe Leiser & Patrice Caurier
Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden,
London, on 12th and 16th December 2008.

Bonus material:

Illustrated synopsis & animated cast gallery.
Interview with Colin Davis.
Fairytales feature.
Cinema trailer.

‘Angelika Kirchschlager’s tousled, boyish Hänsel and Diana
Damrau’s Gretel are dramatically convincing and vocally
superb, while their parents, excellently sung and played by
Elizabeth Connell and Thomas Allen, earn our sympathy as
well as our censure. Pumeza Matshikiza’s goblin-like
Sandman is truly magical and Anita Watson’s featherdusting
Dew Fairy another amusing creation.' Colin Davis