Fantastic storylines abound in opera, but these grand musical settings of much-loved fairytales embrace the imaginary, giving free rein to dreams. The Royal Opera’s acclaimed Hansel and Gretel combines the directors’ characteristic wit and knack for dark comedy with the story’s enduring charm. Glyndebourne’s recounting of the quick-witted fox’s escape into nature balances the opera’s whimsy and mysticism. Opera North’s enchanting staging of Jonathan Dove’s 21st opera is a wittily inventive feast for the eyes and ears, shining new light on Collodi’s original tale, by turns magical and dark.

"What an inspired and exciting opera this is. Gorgeous characters, a busy story rich in incident and an exhilarating mix of music. Delight follows delight." - The Stage (The Adventures of Pinocchio)

"Not only was the production a great one to attend as a first opera, but the DVD is perhaps as good an introduction to
opera as one could hope for, a success on almost every front." - Musicweb International (Hänsel und Gretel)

"Lucy Crowe’s glowingly sung Vixen ...Tom Pye’s Hockneyish designs are evocative of a world of childish wonder, with
animal costumes which cleverly suggest human characteristic." - The Daily Telegraph (The Cunning Little Vixen)

Extra features:
- On Hansel and Gretel with Colin Davis
- Fairytales feature
- Creating Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen
- Thoughts on The Adventures of Pinocchio by the Composer, Librettist, Director and Conductor
- Illustrated synopses of Hansel and Gretel and The Adventures of Pinocchio
- Cast Galleries

Humperdinck - Hänsel und Gretel (2008, The Royal Opera)
- Hansel: Angelika Kirchschlager
- Gretel: Diana Damrau
The Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Royal Opera Chorus
Conductor: Colin Davis
Stage director: Moshe Leiser & Patrice Caurier

Janáček - The Cunning Little Vixen (2012, Glyndebourne)
- Vixen: Lucy Crowe
- Fox: Emma Bell
The Glyndebourne Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski
Stage director: Melly Still

Dove / Middleton - The Adventures of Pinocchio (2008, Opera North)
- Pinocchio: Victoria Simmonds
- Geppetto: Jonathan Summers
Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North
Conductor: David Parry
Stage director: Martin Duncan

Running time: 474 minutes
Sound format: LPCM 2.0 & DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Subtitles: English, Français, Deutsch (all titles); Español, Italiano (Hänsel und Gretel, Pinocchio); Korean (Vixen - main feature only)