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Overview

Synopsis

Hänsel und Gretel is a fairy tale opera that follows two young siblings, Hänsel and Gretel, as they get lost in the forest after being chased out of the house for bothering their mother. In their quest to pick and gather strawberries, the children become lost in the woods, reknown for being the home to an evil Witch who eats children. After meeting some other magical characters, the children come across a delicious gingerbread house, where a kind old woman lives. They are invited inside to enjoy a smorgasbord of sweets and treats, only to discover that their host is the evil Witch. She puts a spell on the children, making them eat until their are plump so that she can cook them to perfection. The children manage to conquer the Witch, and their parents find them, all celebrating their freedom.

Show Information

Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1893
Genres
Fairy Tale/Fantasy
Settings
Simple/No Set, Spectacle, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
germany- no specific time or place
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Female Cast, Includes Child, Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Hänsel

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Gretel

Lead

Female

Soprano

The Witch

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Father (Peter)

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Mother (Gertrud)

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Sandman

Featured

Female

Soprano

Dewman

Featured

Female

Soprano

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

Overture (Vorspiel)

  • Act I, Scene i: At Home (Gretel, Hänsel)
  • Act I, Scene ii: At Home (Mother, Hänsel, Gretel)
  • Act I, Scene iii: At Home (Father, Mother)
  • Act II, Scene i: In the Woods (Gretel, Hänsel, Echo)
  • Act II, Scene ii: In the Woods (Sandman, Hänsel, Gretel)
  • Act II, Scene iii: In the Woods (Orchestra)
  • Act III, Scene i: The Witch’s House (Dewman, Gretel, Hänsel) Act III, Scene ii: The Witch’s House (Hänsel, Gretel) Act III, Scene iii; The Witch’s House (Hänsel, Gretel, The Witch) Act III, Scene iv: The Gingerbread Children (Gretel, Hänsel, The Gingerbread Children) Act III, Scene v: Finale (Hänsel, Gretel, Mother, Father, The Gingerbread Children)

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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