Hansel and Gretel
by Engelbert Humperdinck

CSO’s debut opera was Hansel and Gretel in November 2005. It was performed at the Lemoyne Middle School on November 11, 12 and 15, 2005 and at the Strand Capitol on November 19, 2005.

Cast

• Gretel - Kathryn Foster
• Hansel - Elizabeth Splaine
• Mother -Tracy Hall, Suzanne Sweigart
• Father - Paul Brown
• Witch - Eve Edwards, Nancy Engle
• Sandman - Joshua Kerstetter, Patrick Sanders
• Dew Fairy - Elizabeth Murphy, Tracy Smith
• Conductor - Dr. Andrew Rosenfeld

Dates & Locations

• November 11, 12, 15, 2005 - Lemoyne Middle School
• November 19, 2005 - Strand Capitol (York PA)
   

Synopsis

At his sister’s request, Humperdinck first composed incidental music to be used in a short play about Hansel and Gretel that she had written for her students to perform. Fascinated by the subject and with his sister’s expanded full-length libretto, he set about composing a full-length opera. The first performance took place in Weimar, Germany on December 23, 1893. It was an immediate success and quickly became part of the standard repertory of major opera houses around the world. It was chosen by the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City to be the first full-length opera to be broadcast live from its stage on December 25, 1931.

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