Rating: - A Charming Fairy Tale Opera in English
I borrowed this version of Hansel and Gretel from the library shortly after watching the December 2007 version of the very same opera this Christmas. Hansel and Gretel has been my favorite opera ever since I heard the dramatized story version on CD by Jane Powell, but I was almost turned off by the gloomy, surreal world I saw in the modern version. It was refreshing watching opera the way it should have been done. Even though there were some dark undertones and a hideous witch, the 1982 Hansel and Gretel had a cheer and innocence that I found truly disarming.
Rating: - Wonderful dvd--just got it from the Met!!
I think this is a wonderful production and was so sad to see the used price of $250.00 or so above. I had given up on owning a copy. Then I went to the Met web site and was thrilled to see it still available for around 30.00. It is a magical performance--well worth hunting down.
Rating: - Gorgeous Music and a Charming Story
This is the Metropolitan Opera's grand production of Hansel and Gretel, starring Julith Blegen and Frederica von Stade.
It is absolutely a delight to the eyes and ears, and is so deliciously done, you can almost smell the gingerbread and taste the witch's candy house. This is from a live performance, and it is likely you will gasp in amazement (as the live audience did) as the witch's house appears on stage. Equally well-executed are the flying angels who guard Hansel and Gretel's sleep. (The Met made sure it didn't look like singers hanging from wires--they really look like angels, and ... Read More
Rating: - Magical Production!
It seems like "magical" is a word only used by hack reviewers from suspicious-sounding newspapers. But really, there's no better word for this production. The richly romantic score is wonderfully played by the orchestra, and sensitively conducted by Fulton. The singers are uniformly good. The fantasy elements are spectacular... the house, the forest, the flying of angels and witches add immeasurably to the production. The only thing that I wasn't overly fond of was at certain moments the production was "childrened down," like with the occasional addition of somewhat corny graphics. But much better than ... Read More
Rating: - From a mushroom
Speaking as a former dancing mushroom (yes, one of the ones seen in this video), I can say that this is one of my favorite videos! As a child, performing in this production was an exciting rush. As an adult, watching the opera still gives me a thrill. The production is beautiful, the stars incredible and the dancing mushrooms...well... An excellent introduction to opera and an enjoyable video for children and adults alike!
