Hansel and Gretel
Engelbert Humperdinck
In German with German and English surtitles
Fairy-tale opera in three scenes based on the poem by Adelheid Wette
Synopsis
A well-known fairy tale with a great orchestral sound: “Hansel and Gretel” has been popular with young and adult opera lovers ever since its world premiere in 1893. Engelbert Humperdinck (1854–1921) created a work that is now among the most-performed operas worldwide. At the Salzburg State Theatre, the fairy-tale opera returns to the stage in a poetic production directed and designed by Thomas Mika. Experience the familiar story of the two siblings who fail to do their household chores and, as a punishment, are sent by their mother to the forest that is haunted by the wicked witch.
“Conducted by Leslie Suganandarajah, the Mozarteum Orchestra performs the overture and the interludes in delightful shades of colour and with gripping momentum, while Suganandarajah adjusts the dynamics with accurate fine tuning. […] The duet of the two children reassuring each other in the forest is a touching highlight of the evening.” – Salzburger Nachrichten
Duration: 2h / one intermission
Selected performance
Sa 12/07/2024 07.00 pm
Salzburger Landestheater
Performances
Audio introduction
von Anna N. M. Lea
Cast (on 12/07/2024)
Musical director
Leslie Suganandarajah
Director, stage & costume design
Thomas Mika
Dramaturgy
Anna N. M. Lea
Peter, Besenbinder
George Humphreys
Gertrud, sein Weib / die Hexe
Martina Mikelić
Hänsel
Katie Coventry
Gretel
Laura Incko
Sandmännchen, Taumännchen
Anita Giovanna Rosati
Orchester
Mozarteumorchester Salzburg
Reviews
„Musikdirektor Leslie Suganandarajah, ein ausgewiesener Kenner des deutschen Fachs, widmet sich dem Stück allerdings mit der gebotenen Sorgfalt. Das Mozarteumorchester realisiert unter seiner Leitung Ouvertüre und Zwischenspiele in reizvollen Farbmischungen und mit packender Wucht, darüber hinaus arbeitet Suganandarajah mit akkurater Feinjustierung der Dynamik.“
„So toppte der Premierenabend, nicht zuletzt durch ein märchenhaft gutes Mozarteumorchester Salzburg (Musikalische Leitung Leslie Suganandarajah) und einen überwältigend sing- und spielfreudigen Chor (Salzburger Festspiele und Theater Kinderchor) sämtliche Erwartungen. Eine vorgezogene Bescherung für Theatermenschen.“