Nataliia Kukhar as Hänsel
“Hänsel und Gretel” remained Humperdinck’s most successful work and, more than 130 years after its premiere, is still one of Germany’s most popular and frequently performed operas. The fairy-tale play about the sibling pair is, and remains, a musical masterpiece that speaks to all generations.
It tells a story of temptation and desire, of risk-taking and overconfidence – but above all, of the strength of two children who manage to free themselves from an apparently hopeless situation.
One of the most beautiful moments in the opera is the scene when the children, “at the darkest hour,” simply fall asleep. Guided by unshakable faith in their guardian angels, they become open to a fantastic world – mysterious and dangerous, yet dreamlike and beautiful.