Hansel und Gretel

   

Hansel und Gretel is an opera by Engelbert Humperdinck (Humperdinck himself described it as a fairy opera.) The libretto was written by Adelheit Wette (Humperdinck's sister), based on Grimm's Hansel and Gretel. It was first performed in Weimar on December 23, 1893.

The idea for the opera was proposed to Humperdinck by his sister, who approached him about writing music for a libretto that she had written for her children for Christmas based on "Hansel and Gretel." Humperdinck decided to elaborate on the idea and make a full-scale opera production.

Hansel und Gretel is much admired for its folk music-inspired themes, one of the most famous being the prayer from act II.

The opera is part of the standard operatic repertoire. There are a number of recordings of it, and it is regularly performed.

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