Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera Hänsel und Gretel has remained a firm favourite in opera houses around the world. A skilful blend of Weber’s 'Der Freischütz', Wagner’s 'Meistersinger' and 'Siegfried', it weaves a magical spell upon the listener. Conjuring up all the childhood fears of what lives in deep in the forest, and things that go bump in the night (this is after all based on a Grimm Brothers tale!), Humperdinck’s magical score is full of wonderful tunes.

A welcome back to this famous recording from the vaults of Berlin Classics, with the great Ingeborg Springer and Renate Hoff, and a splendid role for Peter Schreier as Die Knusperhexe.

An opera based on a children’s tale, but by no means childish, the inherent horror of the tale is painted in Wagnerian colours and the dramatic tension is spine‐tingling!