Description
Humperdinck - Hänsel Und Gretel / Murray, Gruberova, Ludwig, Jones, Staatskapelle Dresden, Davis / Libretto available online with this CD / The Opera Company / Decca 2x Audio CD 2011 / 478 3047
UPC 028947830474
Hansel and Gretel (German: Hänsel und Gretel) is an opera by nineteenth-century composer Engelbert Humperdinck, who described it as a Märchenoper (fairy-tale opera). The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm brothers' fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel". It is much admired for its folk music-inspired themes, one of the most famous being the "Abendsegen" ("Evening Benediction") from act 2.
The idea for the opera was proposed to Humperdinck by his sister, who approached him about writing music for songs that she had written for her children for Christmas based on "Hansel and Gretel". After several revisions, the musical sketches and the songs were turned into a full-scale opera.
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.
| Label: | Decca – 478 3047 |
|---|---|
| Series: | The Opera Company |
| Format: |
2 x CD, Album
|
| Country: | Europe |
| Released: |
2011 |
| Genre: | Classical |
| Style: | Romantic, Opera |
Tracklist:
| 1-1 | Vorspiel | 8:03 | |
|
Erstes Bild: Daheim |
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| 1-2 | Suse, Liebe Suse, Was Raschelt Im Stroh? | 5:36 | |
| 1-3 | Brüderchen, Komm Tanz Mit Mir | 3:43 | |
| 1-4 | Himmel, Die Mutter! | 3:58 | |
| 1-5 | Rallalala, Rallalala | 6:41 | |
| 1-6 | Doch Halt, Wo Bleiben Die Kinder? | 1:42 | |
| 1-7 | Wenn Sie Sich Verirrten Im Walde Dort | 4:03 | |
| 1-8 | Der Hexenritt | 4:30 | |
|
Zweites Bild: Im Walde |
|||
| 1-9 | Ein Männlein Steht Im Walde | 6:13 | |
| 1-10 | Gretel! Ich Weiß Den Weg Nicht Mehr | 3:38 | |
| 1-11 | Der Kleine Sandmann Bin Ich | 2:44 | |
| 1-12 | Abends Will Ich Schlafen Geh'n | 3:24 | |
| 1-13 | Pantomine | 4:57 | |
|
Drittes Bild: Das Knusperhaus |
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| 2-1 | Waldmorgen Vor Dem Knusperhaus | 2:39 | |
| 2-2 | Der Kleine Taumann Heiß' Ich | 1:40 | |
| 2-3 | Wo Bin Ich? Wach' Ich? Ist Es Ein Traum? | 2:54 | |
| 2-4 | Mir Ist So Wohl, Ich Weiß Nicht Wie! | 2:21 | |
| 2-5 | Bleib Steh'n, Bleib Steh'n! | 4:33 | |
| 2-6 | Knusper, Knusper Knäuschen | 2:39 | |
| 2-7 | Hi Hi, Hi Hi | 5:18 | |
| 2-8 | Halt! Hokuspokus, Hexenschuß! | 5:30 | |
| 2-9 | Der Teig Ist Gar, Wir Können Voran Machen | 3:17 | |
| 2-10 | Auf! Wach Auf, Mein Jüngelchen | 4:07 | |
| 2-11 | Juche! Nun Ist Die Hexe Tot | 2:50 | |
| 2-12 | Erlöst, Befreit, Für Alle Zeit! | 3:50 | |
| 2-13 | Rallalala, Rallalala | 2:38 |
- A&R – Rupert Fäustle
- Art Direction – Georgina Curtis
- Baritone Vocals – Franz Grundheber
- Chorus – Damen Der Staatsoper Dresden, Kinderchor Der Staatsoper Dresden
- Chorus Master [Damen] – Christoph Bauer (3)
- Chorus Master [Kinderchor] – Werner Czerny
- Composed By – Engelbert Humperdinck (2)
- Conductor – Sir Colin Davis
- Engineer [Recording] – Cees Heijkoop, Evert Menting, Horst-Dieter Käppler, Roger de Schot
- Liner Notes – George Hall (4)
- Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Ann Murray, Christa Ludwig
- Orchestra – Staatskapelle Dresden
- Producer, Engineer [Balance] – Ursula Singer
- Soprano Vocals – Barbara Bonney, Christiane Oelze, Edita Gruberova, Gwyneth Jones
