Robert Hayward Engelbert Classical Humperdinck Charles Mackerras - Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel (29 tracks) +Album Reviews

Down with the Dumps, Out with the Grumps!

Paul Evans | Los Angeles | 01/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having seen this live with Larmore and Upshaw (in the utterly charming and now foresaken Met production) conducted by Mackerras in 2001, it's no surprise that the Chandos CD is a complete treat! The music here is just simply divine and the great Mackerras is the main reason for this. Larmore and Evans totally get it right (I can't say the same for Coote and Schaefer from the '07 broadcast, who also sang this same translation); they are so musical and eat up every line. Diction is so clear and I love Diana Montague as the Sandman. Chandos? Keep it coming."

Captures all the magic of Hänsel und Gretel.

G. Merritt | Boulder, CO | 01/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""When the need is greatest, God the Lord puts out his hand."

Based on the Grimms' creepy fairy tale, Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel is a magical experience in opera, and this recent recording captures all the magic of the live performance. (I experienced a live HD simulcast performance of Humperdinck's equally dark and charming opera in English from The NYC Metropolitan Opera over the weekend, with Alice Coote and Christine Schäfer in the title roles, and the Witch portrayed by tenor Philip Langridge. Hansel und Gretel was also the first complete Metropolitan Opera performance heard on radio, on Christmas Day, 1931.) Before the Met performance, I listened to this recent CD recording of the opera to familiarize myself with the opera, which was first performed in Weimar on December 23, 1893, and in the U.S. on October 8, 1895. Hänsel und Gretel has been associated with the holiday season ever since, and it is often performed at Christmas time. (When it comes to holiday performances, I'd choose this opera over Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker (ballet suite) any day.) There are many recordings of the opera, the earliest in 1947, and I am not qualified to compare them. However, many critics consider the 1953 EMI version featuring Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Elisabeth Grümmer, with Herbert von Karajan conducting, to be the best ever recorded. In my opinion, this 2007 version will not disappoint.

G. Merritt"

Superb!

Michael Baskin | Kissimmee, FL | 02/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think I own just about every recording of Hansel and Gretel ever made...and this one by far is the topper! Everyone comes together with abolute perfection to bring a total musical and theatrical experience to this charming opera. Especially outstanding are Jennifer Larmore and Rebecca Evans as Hansel and Gretel. They obviously immersed themselves totally in the roles and convey it beautifully to the listener. I'm not familier with Jane Henschel as a singer, but her Witch is awesome! Just the right touch of comic and menacing qualities. Charles Mackerras' conducting and the beautiful playing by The Philharmonia provide the cream on the top. I must also mention that this recording has some wonderful sound effects including a spectacular explosion of the witche's oven! By all means grab this recording...and enjoy it!"

Search - Robert Hayward, Engelbert [Classical] Humperdinck, Charles Mackerras :: Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel

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