Hänsel & Gretel
The opera is an adaption for children. The composer himself is playing the part of the narrator.
Directed by: Prof. Gerhard Tötschinger
Choreography: Werner Hierzer
Stage design: Odilia Baldszun
Costumes: Prof. Marie Luise Walek / Christine Hierzer-Riedler
Building of the figures: Werner Hierzer
Sculpture: Friedrich Wallner / Tibor Bogdan / Sepp Rems / Andrzej Tatowicz / Antonia Petz
Speaker: Prof. Gerhard Tötschinger
Stagetechniquee : Karl Petz
Painting of the decoration: Christian Brandtner
Marionetteplayers: Christine Hierzer-Riedler / Werner Hierzer / Saviz Foroughi / Isabell Francisci-Ragger / Claudia Hisberger / Antonia Petz / Maria Drabits / Lisa Pippan
Recording: NAXOS / Philharmonia Orchestra London – Herbert von Karajan
Loughton High School for Girls Choir, Bancroft´s School Choir,
Recorded 1953, Kingsway Hall, London
Hänsel Elisabeth Grümmer
Gretel Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Vater Josef Metternich
Mutter Maria von Ilosvay
Hexe Else Schürhoff
Sandmann Anny Felbermayer
Taumann Anny Felbermayer
Act one
Hänsel and Gretel are home alone. Instead of working they are playing and dancing. Their mother sends them into the forest to collect berries and mushrooms. Their father comes back in a good mood because he has sold many brooms. When he hears that Hänsel and Gretel are in the forest all by themselves he is worried they could encounter the wicked witch. Hänsel and Gretel have lost their way. It is getting dark and they are frightened. The sandman appears and makes them fall asleep. While they are asleep the children are guarded by 14 guardian angels.
Act two
The next morning they continue their way through the forest and discover the house of the witch. The children are delighted when they find out that the house is entirely made of gingerbread and so they try a small piece. Suddenly the witch appears and casts a spell on them. Hänsel is being shut up behind a grating, Gretel has to work for the witch. But then Gretel is able to trick the old witch who ends up in the oven and turnes into gingerbread herself. Now the spell is broken and all children who had been turned into gingerbread by the wicked witch are free again and happily return to their parents.
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