Hansel and Gretel

Engelbert Humperdinck’s operatic adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale takes the stage at the Sarasota Opera House. The production follows the hungry siblings into a magical forest, emphasizing themes of youthful courage and peril. Originally conceived as a small parlor entertainment for Humperdinck's nieces, the work grew into a full-scale romantic opera combining Wagnerian harmonic richness with folk-like melodies. The staging provides an entry point to classical vocal music while delivering the lush orchestration expected of late 19th-century repertoire.