"Hansel and Gretel" is one of the most popular and most frequently performed operas in the world and has fascinated young and old alike since its premiere on December 23, 1893 under the baton of Engelbert Humperdinck's close friend Richard Strauss. This may also be due to the fact that "Hansel and Gretel" was originally written for the children of the Wette family, Humperdinck's nieces and nephews, and was therefore conceived as a family piece before the composer reworked the work into a full-length opera.
After a singspiel version, Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) completed the through-composed version in 1893. Its imposing orchestral sound paints the eerie sounds and shadows of the forest at night. Folk song-like melodies such as "Ein Männlein steht im Walde" are just as inspiring as the songs of the crispy witch or the evening blessing, which is a leitmotif throughout the piece, following the example of Richard Wagner.
Thomas Mika's works have already been performed in Moscow, Paris, at La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera and the Zurich Opera. As designer and director, he created the double bill "Jolanthe / The Nutcracker" by Tchaikovsky for the Salzburg State Theater. He also has overall responsibility for "Hansel and Gretel". Music director Leslie Suganandarajah conducts the Mozarteum Orchestra.
Premiere December 7, 2024
Further performances: December 10, 15, 21, 26 and 29, 2024, January 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 16, 25, 29 and 31, 2025

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