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Engelbert Humperdinck strikes again: Hansel and Gretel

The Brothers Grimm fairy tale about Hansel and Gretel has apparently been adapted to the opera stage in England with some success by Engelbert Humperdinck. Now a filmed version of his whimsical production has leapfrogged across the pond to land at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute near Philadelphia on Sunday, December 21, 2008, at 1 PM.

This particular slant on the story was originally conceived by Humperdinck’s sister, Adelheid Wette, who had adapted the original Grimm tale into a play for her own children. Originally, the H Man composed four songs for it but, the operatic potential of the material was clear, and soon he was diving headlong into a full production to accompany the lost siblings’ journey through a shadowy world of unknown menace. The fable has seen constant and extraordinary success across stages around the world since it’s premiere in 1893.

Hansel and Gretel has it all: romanticism, lyricism and a vibrantly rich orchestration clearly influenced by Brahms and Wagner. The production is conducted by Kazushi Ono, directed by Laurent Pelly, and sung in German. Don’t worry too much. There are English subtitles. Plus, you probably already know the story well enough to follow along.

Read more about Hansel und Gretel at the Bryn Mawr website here. The screening will be introduced and discussed by Michael Bolton, Director of Outreach and Community Programs for the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Umm, I’m pretty sure he’s not THAT Michael Bolton. The Bryn Mawr film Institute is located at 824 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.

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