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Offer,Humperdinck: Hänsel & Gretel

Rebecca Evans (Gretel), Jennifer Larmore (Hansel), Jane Henschel (The Witch), Rosalind Plowright (Gertrude), Robert Hayward (Peter), Sarah Tynan (Dew Fairy), Diana Montague (Sandman), Sarah Coppen (Cuckoo)

Philharmonia Orchestra & New London Children’s Choir, Sir Charles Mackerras

What distinguishes this version is primarily the vigorous and large-scale conducting of Sir Charles Mackerras. — BBC Music Magazine, August 2007, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 29th May 2007
Catalogue No: CHAN3143(2)
Label: Chandos
Series: Opera in English
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes

BBC Music Magazine

August 2007

Opera Choice
Gramophone Magazine

September 2007

Editor's Choice
Grammy Awards

50th Awards (2007)

Best Opera Recording

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

No digital booklet included

Chandos - Downloads at MP3 Prices

Special offer ends: 22/05/2024

Excerpt, Humperdinck: Hänsel & Gretel

Work length7:40

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Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonic Orchestra

Overture

Track length7:40

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Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel, Act I

Work length25:11

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Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennifer Larmore, Rosalind Plowright, Robert Hayward, Rebecca Evans

Goosey goosey gander, the mouse in the straw (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length2:56

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Down with the dumps, out with the grumps (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length2:39

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Little brother dance with me (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length3:38

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Hansel! (Mother, Gretel, Hansel)

Track length2:15

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My jug all in bits (Mother)

Track length1:40

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Ral-la-la-la, ral-la-la-la, light the fire (Father, Mother)

Track length6:27

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But wait, say where are the children? (Father, Mother)

Track length3:01

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But there's one, a crone, who lives alone (Father, Mother)

Track length2:35

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Excerpt, Humperdinck: Hänsel & Gretel

Work length4:17

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Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonic Orchestra

Prelude to Act II. The Witches' Ride

Track length4:17

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Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel, Act II

Work length16:29

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Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonic Orchestra, Diana Montague, Jennifer Larmore, Sarah Coppen, Rebecca Evans, New London Children's Choir

A dwarf stood in the forest (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length2:53

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Cuckoo, cuckoo (Cuckoo, Hansel, Gretel)

Track length3:16

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Gretel, I think we've lost the way (Hansel, Gretel, Voices)

Track length4:18

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I am the little sandman (Sandman, Hansel, Gretel)

Track length2:38

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Where each child lays down its head (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length3:24

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Excerpt, Humperdinck: Hänsel & Gretel

Work length5:03

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Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonic Orchestra

Pantomime

Track length5:03

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Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel, Act III

Work length42:13

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Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonic Orchestra, Sarah Tynan, Jennifer Larmore, Jane Henschel, New London Children's Choir, Rebecca Evans, Rosalind Plowright, Robert Hayward

Introduction

Track length2:43

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When dew drops on the daisy (Dew Fairy, Gretel)

Track length1:40

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I slept here? On a pine-tree bed! (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length5:22

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Keep still! No sound! (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length4:11

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Greedy little mousey, who's nibbling at my housey? (Witch, Hansel, Gretel)

Track length2:00

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Hansel, don't be so greedy (Gretel, Hansel, Witch)

Track length5:11

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Stop, Hocus pocus, witch's ground (Witch)

Track length1:17

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Now Gretel, you're the sensible one (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)

Track length5:23

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So hopp hopp hopp, galopp lopp lopp (Witch)

Track length1:32

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Now wake up, it's time to eat (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)

Track length3:51

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Hoorach! Now that the witch is dead (Gretel, Hansel)

Track length2:40

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The dead arise, but cannot see (Gingerbread Children, Gretel, Hansel, Father)

Track length4:05

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Father! Mother! (Gretel, Hansel, Mother, Father, Gingerbread Children)

Track length2:18

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Reviews
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Reviews

August 2007

What distinguishes this version is primarily the vigorous and large-scale conducting of Sir Charles Mackerras.

2010

When a perfectly serviceable version of Hanseland Gretel in English already exists on CfP, it is generous as well as bold for the Peter Moores Foundation to sponsor this new one. In every way it replaces the old. That was an EMI effort in 1964 using multichannels – the result: unnecessarily close voices and a dim orchestra. On Chandos the recording is clear and beautifully separated yet with an agreeable bloom on voices and instruments.
The Canadian Mario Bernadi, then briefly the Sadler's Wells company's music director, conducts a lively performance but Sir Charles Mackerras is altogether more inspired and imaginative, with pointing and phrasing that readily match Karajan's masterly conducting on the classic mono EMI set.
Though the CfP singers, from the old Sadler's Wells company, are good with clear, firm voices, their 'prunes and prisms' enunciation of words harks back to a pre-war tradition, dating the performance. This time, following the practice at English National Opera, the David Pountney Opera Humperdinck 602 translation is used, fresher and more idiomatic, helping the starry cast of soloists, led by Jennifer Larmore and Rebecca Evans, both superb in the title-roles, nicely contrasted while blending well together.
There is strong casting, too, for the Witch, with Jane Henschel refusing to caricature the role in 'funny-voice' singing; Rosalind Plowright, gravitating down to mature mezzo, as the Mother, and Robert Hayward as the Father, don't guy their characterisations, either; while there are good contrasts between the bright Dew Fairy of Sarah Tynan and the warm Sandman of Diana Montague.
All told, this set will clearly stand the test of time as an English version, rivalling even the best of versions in the original German. The exhilaration of the final scene in particular is irresistible, with Mackerras drawing a genuinely Viennese-sounding lilt in the waltz rhythms of the 'Witch is dead' duet, the destruction of the Witch's House powerfully conveyed and the revival of the gingerbread children movingly done. The fresh young voices of the New London Children's Choir are beautifully caught.

September 2007

All told, this set will clearly stand the test of time as an English version, rivalling even the best of versions in the original German. The exhilaration of the final scene in particular is irresistible, with Mackerras drawing a genuinely Viennese-sounding lilt in the waltz rhythms of the "Witch is dead" duet, the destruction of the Witch's House powerfully conveyed and the revival of the gingerbread children movingly done.

It was Rebecca Evans’s Gretel, who took the honours. Spinning out radiant lines of delicious purity, she made it hard to see how the role could be sung better

Offer,Humperdinck: Hänsel & Gretel

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