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.

2 DVD SET

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

Bonus material:

Illustrated synopsis & animated cast gallery.
Interview with Colin Davis.
Fairytales feature.
Cinema trailer.
Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London,
on 12th and 16th December 2008.
Adverts in Gramophone, Classic fM and BBC Music Magazine.

'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 feather-dusting Dew Fairy
another amusing creation. Colin Davis, unafraid to relish the icing on the
cake, draws a warm, effulgent sound from the orchestra.’ Evening
Standard