Hänsel and Gretel, Engelbert Humperdinck’s fairytale opera of 1893, will be coming to the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London this June, the English National Opera (ENO) has announced.
Based on the well-known Grimm fairytale of the same name, the libretto was written by Humperdinck’s sister Adelheid Wette. This production will be sung in English, with a translation by David Pountney.
Conductor Ben Glassberg will lead members of the ENO orchestra, while Open Air Theatre’s Artistic Director Timothy Sheader will direct the piece. Sheader also staged last year’s collaboration between ENO and Open Air Theatre, The Turn of the Screw (Britten, 1954).
Two casts will sing at alternate performances. Rachel Kelly and Heather Lowe share the role of Hänsel, both making their ENO debuts, with Susanna Hurrell and Elizabeth Karani sharing the role of Gretel.
Mother will be sung by Rosie Aldridge and Gweneth Ann Rand. Former ENO Harewood Artist Duncan Rock shares the role of Father with Ben McAteer.
Alasdair Elliott and John Findon share the role of the Witch. Finally, Gillian Keith takes the role of the Sandman at all performances, with He Wu as the Dew Fairy.
With seven lead performers, an ensemble of 30 and 19 members of the ENO orchestra, this will be the Open Air Theatre’s largest company.
Performances take place throughout June and tickets can be booked online.
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The English National Opera will bring Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretal to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in June.