Chandos
Opera In English - Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel / Mackerras
$27.99
Details
- Composer
- HUMPERDINCK, ENGELBERT
- Artist
- Montague, Henschel, Larmore, Evans, Hayward, Plowright, Coopen, Tynan
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Chandos
- Released
- Jun 01, 2007
- Catalog #
- CHAN 3143(2)
- UPC
- 095115314326
About
Simply unmissable for any fans of this opera, Anglophone or not, Mackerras balances the songful and the sinister with absolute sureness. There is not a weak link in the cast, with Rebecca Evans in particular showing how her voice has bloomed in recent years. Jane Henschel is a frighteningly credible witch: she could be your smiling next-door neighbour.
-- Gramophone [9/2007]
This new Opera-in-English set of Engelbert Humperdinck's wonderful Hansel and Gretel goes straight to the top of the list of recorded performances, along with the Schwarzkopf/Karajan. Charles Mackerras leads a most beautiful reading, fully aware of Humperdinck's debt to and love for Wagner but with a warmth that makes the glorious orchestrations and easy, lovely, folksy melodies flow naturally and gracefully. This is not to say that there isn't excitement--the "Witch's Ride" is thrillingly lumpy and aggressive. Mackerras offers a terrific piece of storytelling in music, and the big burst when the Witch is pushed into the oven is a fine cataclysm, handsomely captured by Chandos' engineers.
David Pountney's translation is always comfortable and mostly understandable, and the cast is blessed with natural actors. Jennifer Larmore at times has been faulted for her hard-edged tone; here, as Hansel--sure of himself, boyish, and charming--she's just right. Rebecca Evans sounds nothing like Larmore and portrays a Gretel both spunky and spooked out. If the children's Evening Prayer ever has been sung more beautifully I certainly don't remember it; absolute obedience to dynamics and an ideal blend of voices make it a few moments of sheer bliss. Jane Henschel's Witch is the tour de force this role had better be, and while she may not be the absolute best on CD (that honor goes to Christa Ludwig on an old RCA recording, a set marred only by Anna Moffo's weird Hansel), she's a master of altering her tone, from cajoling to menacing to utter loathing.
I prefer a lighter-toned Sandman, but Diana Montague cannot be faulted vocally or for her gentle singing, and Sarah Tynan's Dew Fairy is lovely. Rosalind Plowright's Mother is strong (she might have made a good Witch) and Robert Hayward sings the Father's music brightly (Mackerras leads his entrance "Tra-la-la-las" nice and quickly). Orchestra and chorus are superb. This set is a pleasure--the ideal Hansel in English, and perhaps in any language.
--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 29 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Overture 07:39
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Overture
- Duration
- 07:39
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
2 Act I: Goosey goosey gander, the mouse in the straw (Gretel, Hansel) 02:57
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Act I: Goosey goosey gander, the mouse in the straw (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 02:57
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
3 Act I: Down with the dumps, out with the grumps (Gretel, Hansel) 02:40
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Act I: Down with the dumps, out with the grumps (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 02:40
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
4 Act I: Little brother dance with me (Gretel, Hansel) 03:39
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Act I: Little brother dance with me (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 03:39
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
5 Act I: Hansel! (Mother, Gretel, Hansel) 02:15
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Act I: Hansel! (Mother, Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 02:15
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore, Rosalind Plowright
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
6 Act I: My Jug all in bits (Mother) 01:40
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Act I: My Jug all in bits (Mother)
- Duration
- 01:40
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rosalind Plowright
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
7 Act I: Ral-la-la-la, ral-la-la-la, light the fire (Father, Mother) 06:27
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Act I: Ral-la-la-la, ral-la-la-la, light the fire (Father, Mother)
- Duration
- 06:27
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Robert Hayward, Rosalind Plowright
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
8 Act I: But wait, say where are the children? (Father, Mother) 03:01
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Act I: But wait, say where are the children? (Father, Mother)
- Duration
- 03:01
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Robert Hayward, Rosalind Plowright
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
9 Act I: But there's one, a crone, who lives alone (Father, Mother) 02:35
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Act I: But there's one, a crone, who lives alone (Father, Mother)
- Duration
- 02:35
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Robert Hayward, Rosalind Plowright
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
10 Act I: Prelude to Act II: the Witches' Ride 04:17
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Act I: Prelude to Act II: the Witches' Ride
- Duration
- 04:17
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
11 Act II: A dwarf stood in the forest (Gretel, Hansel) 02:53
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Act II: A dwarf stood in the forest (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 02:53
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
12 Act II: Cuckoo, cuckoo (Cuckoo, Gretel, Hansel) 03:16
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Act II: Cuckoo, cuckoo (Cuckoo, Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 03:16
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Sarah Coopen, Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
13 Act II: Gretel, I think we've lost the way (Gretel, Hansel, voices) 04:18
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Act II: Gretel, I think we've lost the way (Gretel, Hansel, voices)
- Duration
- 04:18
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
14 Act II: I am the little sandman (Sandman, Gretel, Hansel) 02:39
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Act II: I am the little sandman (Sandman, Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 02:39
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore, Diana Montague
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
15 Act II: Where each child lays down its head (Gretel, Hansel) 03:24
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Act II: Where each child lays down its head (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 03:24
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
16 Act II: Pantomime 05:01
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Act II: Pantomime
- Duration
- 05:01
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
- Disc 2
-
1 Act III: Introduction 02:43
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Act III: Introduction
- Duration
- 02:43
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
2 Act III: When dew drops on the daisy (Dew fairy, Gretel) 01:40
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Act III: When dew drops on the daisy (Dew fairy, Gretel)
- Duration
- 01:40
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Sarah Tynan
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
3 Act III: I slept here? On a pine-tree bed! (Gretel, Hansel) 05:22
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Act III: I slept here? On a pine-tree bed! (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 05:22
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
4 Act III: Keep still! No sound! (Gretel, Hansel) 04:11
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Act III: Keep still! No sound! (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 04:11
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
5 Act III: Greedy little mousy, who's nibbling at my housey? (Witch, Gretel, Hansel) 02:00
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Act III: Greedy little mousy, who's nibbling at my housey? (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 02:00
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jane Henschel, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
6 Act III: Hansel, don't be so greedy (Witch, Gretel, Hansel) 05:11
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Act III: Hansel, don't be so greedy (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 05:11
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jane Henschel, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
7 Act III: Stop! Hocus pocus, witch's ground (Witch) 01:17
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Act III: Stop! Hocus pocus, witch's ground (Witch)
- Duration
- 01:17
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Jane Henschel
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
8 Act III: Now Gretel, you're the sensible one (Witch, Gretel, Hansel) 05:23
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Act III: Now Gretel, you're the sensible one (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 05:23
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
9 Act III: So hopp hopp hopp, galopp lopp lopp (Witch) 01:32
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Act III: So hopp hopp hopp, galopp lopp lopp (Witch)
- Duration
- 01:32
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
10 Act III: Now wake up, it's time to eat (Witch, Gretel, Hansel) 03:51
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Act III: Now wake up, it's time to eat (Witch, Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 03:51
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jane Henschel, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
11 Act III: Horrah! Now that the witch is dead (Gretel, Hansel) 04:05
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Act III: Horrah! Now that the witch is dead (Gretel, Hansel)
- Duration
- 04:05
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
12 Act III: The dead arise, but cannot see (Gingerbread Children, Gretel, Hansel, Father) 04:05
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Act III: The dead arise, but cannot see (Gingerbread Children, Gretel, Hansel, Father)
- Duration
- 04:05
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Robert Hayward, Jennifer Larmore
- Ensemble
- New London Children's Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras
-
13 Act III: Father! Mother! (Gretel, Hansel, Mother, Father, Gingerbread Children) 02:16
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Act III: Father! Mother! (Gretel, Hansel, Mother, Father, Gingerbread Children)
- Duration
- 02:16
- Composer
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Performer
- Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore, Rosalind Plowright
- Ensemble
- New London Children's Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra
- Conductor
- Charles Mackerras