This year the opera department at the Aceademy of Music and Drama in Göteborg presents three different productions with orchestra.
Don Giovanni - Mozart
the Rape of Lucretia- Britten
and Hänsel und Gretel by Humperdinck
Hänsel und Gretel is a coproduction between the Academy of Music and Drama and Musik i Väst and their youth symphony orchestra VÄGUS (their homepage are unfortunately not updated) and HDK - School of Design and Crafts.
————————-
Hänsel und Gretel in original is a three acts opera composed by Engelbert Humperdinck (Humperdinck himself described it as a fairy opera.) with a libretto by Adelheid Wette, (Humperdinck’s sister) of course based on the Grimm’s famous fairytale Hansel und Gretel. It was first performed in Weimar on December 23, 1893, conducted by Richard Strauss.
The idea for the opera was proposed to Humperdinck by his sister, who approached him about writing music for songs that she had written for her children for Christmas based on "Hänsel and Gretel." After several revisions, the musical sketches and the songs were turned into a full-scale opera. Hänsel und Gretel has been associated with Christmas since its earliest performances, and it is often performed at Christmas time. It is much admired for its folk music-inspired themes, one of the most famous being the prayer from act II. [read more here]
————————
The play is shortened to app. one hour and is performed in swedish. Tickets are available at ticnet or by Pusterviks biljetter
The premiere is Jan. 27 6pm, in Vara Concerthall, Jan. 28th we move the stage design to Lidköping, Teater Esplanad and except two performances for invited schools there is one performance at 7pm. Jan. 29th and 30th the performances are in Artisten, Göteborg 7pm. One shortened performance will be held for children in the Gothenburg Concert Hall at noon on February 29th.
Conductor: Simon Phipps
Stage director: Gunilla Gårdfeldt
Assistant director: Henrik Andersson
Costume: Kristin Johansson-Lassbo and students from HDK
The Cast:
Gretel: Anna Johansson
Hänsel: Solgerd Israelsson
Hexe: Live Maartmann Danìelsson
Vater: Martin Lögdström
Mutter: Karin Fjellander
Sandmann: Karola Pavone