Opera Holland Park’s decision to take on Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel this 2023 season was inspired and not only because the story chimes with societal concerns over child poverty and hunger.

There are many reasons to see this late 19th century opera, which is far from political and more religious in sentiment, the libretto having been written when church attendances were at their peak in Europe. 

The opera, based on the gory Brothers Grimm tale, is far from insipid and preachy. Humpeldinck’s gorgeously rich score, with Wagnerian embellishments and moments – brilliantly conveys the mystery, the wonder, the dangers of childhood, of leaving home and embarking on a journey into dense woods where the moon and stars are absent, where untold pleasures and terrors lurk.

I had never heard or seen the full opera but had heard beautiful extracts on different recordings.Kenneth Wood’s Visions of Childhood stands out, in which he conducts his own arrangement of The Sandmann’s song and the Children’s Evening Prayer from Hansel and Gretel. With the English Symphony Orchestra and April Fredrick soprano, this is worth a listen.

This week Opera Holland Park’s production was illuminating on every level. This was partially due to John Wilkie’s fluid stage direction and Kārin Hendrikson’s subtle, intelligent conducting. Thanks to them the audience was seamlessly transported into a world of gingerbread houses, sprites, Sandmen and evilness.

Most important was OHP’s phenomenal cast, with Charlotte Badham, thoroughly engaging with her thoughtful mezzo and her Hansel, all bare legs and awkwardness in shorts! Greta, sung by Laura Lolita Perešivana, displayed a powerful soprano, which she did well to keep in check – she was playing a mere girl after all! Their prayer in Act 11 was exquisite. Paul Carey-Jones as Peter their tipsy, hopeful father was joyous in the Tra-la-la-la song and Meeta Ravel as the guilt-ridden mother was played sympathetically. Tall Eleanor Dennis as the Witch, in Prussian uniform. was more comic than terrifying – however when she sang of her intentions to eat Gretel, I squirmed in my seat. Dance throughout played an important role in this opera and the suggestion was that not to dance was to die.

And yet Hansel & Gretel, the opera, is milder and more optimistic than the Brothers Grimm tale which haunted so many of us growing up in the 1960s. The book illustrations of ugly witches, distorted gingerbread houses and famished, ill clad children, are things you don’t forget.

I am not a fan of fairy tales, but OPH’s Hansel and Gretel is sublime – go to the last night tonight (23rd June 2023) if you can!

KH

Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck has its last performance at Opera Holland Park tonight Friday 23rd June 2023