Engelbert Humperdinck was born in Siegburg, Germany, on September 1, 1854, and died in Neustrelitz, Germany, on September 27, 1921. The first performance of the opera Hänsel und Gretel took place at the Hoftheater in Weimar, Germany, on December 23, 1893, with Richard Strauss conducting. The excerpts are scored for piccolo, two flutes (2nd doubling English horn), two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbals, harp, and strings. Approximate performance time is thirteen minutes.
German composer Engelbert Humperdinck wrote his opera, Hansel and Gretel, at the request of his sister, Adelheid Wette. Wette wrote a children’s play, based upon the popular brothers Grimm fairy tale. She asked her brother to set parts of the play to music. Later, Wette prevailed upon Engelbert Humperdinck to compose a full-length Hansel and Gretel opera. Despite reservations, Humperdinck undertook the project, a setting of a libretto by Wette.
Humperdinck composed a remarkably rich and beautiful score for his fairy-tale opera, earning the admiration of such musicians as Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. The latter conducted the world premiere of Humperdinck’s opera in Weimar, on December 23, 1893. Strauss wrote to Humperdinck: “Your opera has enchanted me. It is truly a masterpiece. I have not seen such an important work for a long time. I admire the abundance of melody, the finesse, the polyphonic richness of the orchestration…all that is new, original, truly German.” To this day, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel remains a beloved part of the operatic repertoire, especially around Christmas time.
This concert features a series of excerpts from Act II of Humperdinck’s opera. Hansel and Gretel find themselves lost in the woods. The Sandman approaches and sprinkles magic dust in the frightened children’s eyes (Sandman’s Song). Hansel and Gretel say their prayers, and then fall asleep (Evening Prayer). Soon, they are surrounded by guardian angels who watch over the children throughout the night (Dream Pantomime).
program notes by Ken Meltzer