Engelbert Humperdinck

Director: (Original Director) Elijah Moshinsky

Hansel: Victoria Lambourn

Gretel: Jacqueline Porter

Peter: Douglas McNicol

Gertrude: Roxane Hislop

Sandman: Cherie Boogaart

Dew Fairy: Jessica Dean

Witch: Anke Hoeppner

Cast: State Opera Children's Chorus

6, 9, 11, 13 November Festival Theatre

 

Left alone at home Hansel complains to his sister that he is hungry. To cheer themselves up Gretel starts to teach her brother how to dance, only to be interrupted by the sudden return of their mother. Complaining how little work the children have done she angrily chases them into the woods to pick strawberries.

Minutes later their father returns home, slightly intoxicated, but carrying plenty of food after a good day's work. He is horrified to hear the children have been sent into the woods and explains the danger because of the evil witch that lives there.

They rush off to seek them out. Meanwhile in the woods the children have lost their way and grow increasingly frightened and tired, eventually saying their prayers and falling asleep together. Awakened by the dew fairy they find themselves in front of a gingerbread house where the Witch casts a spell on them. The Witch locks Hansel inside a cage to fatten him up for her supper. On overhearing the Witch's frightening plan Gretel succeeds in breaking the spell and she and Hansel push her into the hot oven. The enchanted gingerbread children dance back to life and everyone rejoices in their salvation.

Based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale, Humperdinck's truly enchanting score brilliantly displays the conflicts between adulthood and childhood, hunger and satiety, reality and fantasy, and good and evil.

Conductor: Lionel Friend, Original Director: Elijah Moshinsky, Rehearsed by: Julie Edwardson, Set & Costume Designer: Mark Thompson, Lighting Designer: Nigel Levings

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

State Opera Children's Chorus

Sung in English

This production is presented by arrangement with Opera Australia

Running time: 2 hours 5 minutes including interval.

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