Hansel & Gretel

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Hansel & Gretel - Overture, Act II Scenes 2 & 3
The Metropolitan Opera (2008)
Production - Richard Jones
Design - John MacFarlane
Conductors - Robin Ticcati & Vladimir Jurowski
Hansel - Alice Coote
Gretel - Christine Schäfer
Sand Man - Sasha Cooke
Overture
Sand Man (7:30)
Evening Prayer (10:12)
Dream Pantomine (13:13)
The contents of this video are owned by The Metropolitan Opera. I beg them to leave it up so people all over the world can enjoy this important part of an extraordinary production.

[@nicosiv]

Some of the most enchantingly beautiful music ever composed can be found in Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel. I have always championed it as a great masterpiece. The prayer here couldn't be more beautifully sung, and the dream sequence that follows it, glorious. I get choked up every time.

[@lovethestage]

I had the great fortune, the blessing to attend this show. What an amazing treat for the soul. We humans sure know how to be creative.

[@pauledeneau1486]

I cannot fathom a better version of this opera. Christine Schaffer is sublimely adorable as Gretel and the brother role fits perfectly. The staging is the nec plus ultra in my humble opinion.

[@garymoore487]

Why oh why did the MET abandon the glorious production that preceded this monstrosity? !

[@Beson-SE]

The staging is so dreamy and imaginative. I watch this clip very often.

[@robsryan]

Thank you for sharing! It's absolutely wonderful!

[@burtcollins239]

I saw this version long ago and have been looking for it for a long time.. Finally found it

[@LoudCitizen]

Thank you for this video. It’s a special production, have seen it in HD video and live at the Met.

[@JackKellyUSA]

I'm envious. Any chance that you could upload the HD video to TH-cam? Question for you -- Do you know who sung/played the role of Sand Man in this production? I'd like to give her credit.

[@LoudCitizen]

She is soprano Lisette Oropesa.

[@LoudCitizen]

Sorry, I was wrong about the Sandman. She is played by Sasha Cooke. Lisette Oropesa played the Dew Fairy. BTW, you can download this entire video on iTunes (search under Music, not Movies). I bought it in HD version the other day for $19.99 and am watching it now. Amazing! (And no, I cannot and will not upload the HD video; it is illegal and my account would be revoked.)

[@burtcollins239]

Beautiful rendition of this opera. I could not get this theme out of my head for days. In a great way.

[@tarikwildman]

By accident, almost, I attended the opening performance, from the front row, winter 2007. Utterly bewitching beautiful and unforgotten

[@JackKellyUSA]

The complete performance of this fairy-tale opera is available from iTunes. For a few dollars you can rent it or buy it for viewing on an iDevice. On my iPhone, it can be obtained in an app called 'TV', which came with the phone.
If you watch the entire performance, you can then judge for yourself its merits. All varieties of Hansel and Gretel, from the original story to the modern motion pictures, fall within the broad spectrum of art. Different aspects will appeal to different people. This is as it should be. If you like it, then enjoy it. If you don't, then feel free to ignore it. The choice is yours.

[@SenanIsabelle]

I've been trying to see this for years I pray it will come back to the MET! Detroit Mamma

[@ashleywalton2758]

i was fortunate enough to attend this performance, though i prefer the 1982 production

[@frogmouth]

Was that the Fassbaender Gruberova or the one with Frederika von Stade?

[@burtcollins239]

The slow exit of the Sandman was a genius part of the scene.

[@JackKellyUSA]

I couldn't agree more, Burt. I've never wanted to watch Evening Prayer without Sandman first.

[@KAMiddleton]

It is truly beautiful how it works

[@jeffreyhietala3666]

The cooks in the dream sequence look like the oompa loompa's!!

[@larrychan622]

looks like the Fish-Footman from Alice in Wonderland.

[@JAMbannana]

In love. Just in love!

[@mccarlson52]

This is wonderful! Who is the conductor? Odd that he is not listed here!

[@JackKellyUSA]

The conductor of the overture section is Robin Ticcati. I don't know the orchestra.
The conductor for the opera sections is Vladimir Jurowski with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

[@sebastianstahl3178]

The most creepy sandman scene I ever saw. Great moment!!!

[@helmutgehrmann464]

geniale Aufführung

[@windstorm1000]

Richard jones, et al make a travesty of this divine fairy tale---its such a mish mash--

[@wormswithteeth]

When you write the wrong comment.

[@deborahhaines4835]

I agree.

[@AndrewRudin]

God, I hate this production. All the sweetness of childhood has been replaced with cynical deconstruction. Phooey.