Humperdinck: Hansel And Gretel / Delfs, Mentzer, Et Al

$22.99
Label
Avie Records
Release Date
November 1, 2004
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      HUMPERDINCK, ENGELBERT
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
    • PERFORMER
      Murphy, Mentzer, Forst, Taylor, Orth, Christy, Delfs
    Product Details ⌄
    Works ⌄

    1. Prelude

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    2. Act I Scene 1: In the Cottage: Suzy, pretty Suzy, what's all this about? (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    3. Act I Scene 1: In the Cottage: That's that! Now promise you'll be more pleasant (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    4. Act I Scene 1: In the Cottage: Brother dear, come dance with me (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    5. Act I Scene 2: In the Cottage: Now then! (Mother, Hansel, Gretel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    6. Act I Scene 2: In the Cottage: Out! Out to the wood! (Mother)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    7. Act I Scene 3: In the Cottage: Trallala, trallalala (Father's Voice)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    8. Act I Scene 3: In the Cottage: Ho ho! Who's baa-baa-baaing like some sheep (Mother, Father)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    9. Act I Scene 3: In the Cottage: No wait. Where's Hansel and Gretel? (Father, Mother)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    10. Act I Scene 3: In the Cottage: My children astray in that gloomy wood (Father, Mother)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    11. Act I Scene 3: In the Cottage: That old Witch from Hell (Mother, Father)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    12. Act I Scene 3: Prelude: The Witches' Ride

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    13. Act II Scene 1: In the Wood: There stands a little man (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    14. Act II Scene 1: In the Wood: Hurrah! You see my basket is nearly brimful! (Hansel, Gretel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    15. Act II Scene 1: In the Wood: Gretel, I think we've lost our way! (Hansel, Gretel, Echo)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    16. Act II Scene 2: In the Wood: The little sandman calls you - sh! (Sandman, Hansel, Gretel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    17. Act II Scene 2: In the Wood: When at night go to sleep (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    18. Act II Scene 3: In the Wood: Mime

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    19. Act II Scene 3: Prelude

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    20. Act III Scene 1: The Gingerbread House: I bring the dews of morning (Dew Fairy)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    21. Act III Scene 1: The Gingerbread House: Where am I? Waking or lost in dreams? (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    22. Act III Scene 2: The Gingerbread House: Take care, take care! (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    23. Act III Scene 2: The Gingerbread House: The scent is delicious and everything looks nice (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    24. Act III Scene 3: The Gingerbread House: Nibble, Nibble mousekin (Voice from the House, Gretel, Hansel, Voice from the Cottage)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    25. Act III Scene 3: The Gingerbread House: My name is Rosina Sugarface! (Witch, Hansel, Gretel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    26. Act III Scene 3: The Gingerbread House: Stay! (Witch)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    27. Act III Scene 3: The Gingerbread House: Now Gretel, don't be stupid and pine! (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    28. Act III Scene 3: The Gingerbread House: Come hop, hop, hop, Get up lop, lop (Witch)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    29. Act III Scene 3: The Gingerbread House: Come, wake up and stir yourself (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    30. Act III Scene 3: Hurrah! We've caught the Witch at last (Gretel, Hansel)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    31. Act III Scene 4: The Gingerbread House: We're safe, we're sure for ever more! (Gingerbread Children, Gretel, Hansel, Father)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck

    32. Act III Scene 4: Finale: Father! Mother! (Hansel, Gretel, Mother, Father, Gingerbread Children)

      Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck


If it's Hansel-in-English you're looking for, this set clearly is your choice...Here we get a lovely pair of kids in Suzanne Mentzer and Heidi Grant Murphy, their voices so utterly un-alike that the listening experience is vivid for that alone--but besides that, their interplay is credible and they both make wonderful sounds. Mentzer's dark-hued mezzo is suitably boyish, while Murphy's little-girl tone is charming. Judith Forst, hardly in the first bloom of her career, is a vicious Witch, smacking her lips and exuding spite and malice--and her diction is quite good too, unlike Murphy's, just to offer one comparison. Janice Taylor's portrayal of the mother is very fine, but her tone is wobbly; Robert Orth is a sympathetic, burly father; and Anna Christy's double-duty as Sandman and Dew Fairy is impressive. Conductor Andreas Delfs favors slowish tempos, bringing out the rich, symphonic aspects of the score and always making clear that Humperdinck was heavily influenced by Wagner. The Milwaukee Orchestra is excellent, with playing both atmospheric and grand from the brass section in this live performance (no audience is discernible). I guess it's nice to hear the opera in English even if much of it can't be understood, but--not to pick nits--why would a child say toil" when he can say "work"? The sound is better than good--rich and colorful." --Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com