Humperdinck: Hansel And Gretel, Excerpts

Sometimes sweet things can get you into a bit of trouble, as seen in the famous tale of Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. One of the most enduring musical settings of a Brother's Grimm tale is Engelbert Humperdinck's opera, Hansel and Gretel. The opera was first performed in Weimar, Germany in 1893 under the baton of none other than Richard Strauss. While it is Humperdinck's only big success as a composer, Hansel and Gretel has remained a favorite for audiences both young and old! In this excerpt, the mischievous brother and sister pair have been nibbling away at a giant gingerbread house when they are suddenly caught by the house's owner, a witch who loves to eat children! With some teamwork and quick thinking, though, they're able to outsmart that wicked witch and escape unharmed.