Hansel and Gretel (opera)

Lore & Background

Humperdinck composed Hansel and Gretel in Frankfurt in 1891 and 1892. The opera was first performed in the Hoftheater in Weimar on 23 December 1893, conducted by Richard Strauss. It has been associated with Christmas since its earliest performances and today it is still most often performed at Christmas time. 'Abends will ich schlafen gehn' is a well known duet from the opera. The first performance outside Germany was in Basel, Switzerland, on 16 November 1894. The first performance in England was in London on 26 December 1894, at Daly's Theatre and its first United States performance was on 8 October 1895 in New York. The first performance in Australia was on 6 April 1907, at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.

Reader's Guide

Hansel and Gretel is a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire, particularly associated with Christmas performances. Its folk-inspired melodies, especially the 'Abendsegen' duet, have made it widely popular. The opera's performance history includes notable conductors such as Richard Strauss at the premiere and Gustav Mahler at the Hamburg premiere in 1894. In English-speaking countries, the opera is most often performed in English, with translations by Constance Bache, Norman Kelley, and David Pountney. The Metropolitan Opera has performed the work since 2007 in a production originally created for the Welsh National Opera using Pountney's translation. The opera's enduring appeal lies in its blend of fairy-tale narrative, accessible music, and family-friendly themes, making it a frequent introduction to opera for children.

Did You Know?

• The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette.
• The opera was first performed on 23 December 1893, conducted by Richard Strauss.
• The 'Abendsegen' ('Evening Benediction') from act 2 is one of its most famous themes.
• The first performance in the United States was on 8 October 1895 in New York.