Hänsel und Gretel

Engelbert Humperdinck Hänsel und Gretel opera with revised libretto (which is quite different from the traditional book by Adelheid Wette, the composer's sister). Directed 2007 by Johannes Felsenstein at the Anhalt Theatre Dessau. Stars Ludmil Kuntschew, Alexandra Petersamer, Sabine Noack, Cornelia Marschall, and Viktorija Kaminskaite. Markus L. Frank conducts the Dessau Anhalt Philharmonic and the Anhalt Theatre Children's Choir (Chorus Master Dorislava Kuntscheva). Set and costumes by Steghen Rieckhoff; dramaturgy by Susanne Schulz; directed for TV by Brooks Riley. Released  2009, disc has 7.1 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade: B+

It took some guts for Arthaus to bring this out after the Royal Opera House released their glittering version of Hansel and Gretel (Opus Arte). But director Johannes Felsenstein in Dessau had a secret weapon to make make up for his relatively unknown musicians and tight budget for sets and costumes: a point of view. Few Germans alive today have any personal responsibility for what happened in Germany between 1900 and 1945. Now they can without guilt be thankful for the astonishing success the German nation has enjoyed since the end of World War II. So this Hänsel und Gretel becomes a parable for giving thanks to God for their good fortune; and, by extension, a prayer for security and welfare of all the peoples of the earth.