Photo Credit Richard CampbellBased on the Grimms’ fairy tale, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel is both wonderfully unsettling and moving, a story of poverty, magic and triumph over adversity. Director Bill Bankes-Jones (Artistic Director of Tête à Tête) takes the opera back to its roots, revealing a macabre tale full of psychological depth and enchantment. Read more …
Hansel and Gretel are getting under their mother’s feet and, at the end of her tether, she sends them into the woods to collect strawberries. As darkness falls, they realise they are lost. Terrified, they spend the night on the forest floor. Next morning, to their amazement, they discover a house made of gingerbread and are soon helping themselves, unaware that they are falling straight into a trap set by the fabled Wicked Witch…
Humperdinck’s rich score encompasses everything from luscious Wagnerian-inspired orchestration to touching tunes derived from traditional folk melodies. Kai Rüütel, a recent graduate of the Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, sings Hansel, and Irish soprano Ailish Tynan is Gretel, fresh from singing the role at Covent Garden. Leah-Marian Jones (Marcellina in 2010’s The Marriage of Figaro) is the Witch.
New translation by Bill Bankes-Jones.
It is playfully done, without dumbing down for a young audience. Bill Bankes-Jones’ new English translation is vulgarly appropriate and the tone is unerringly upbeat.
Now and again, though, there’s a shortage of momentum, as if Bankes-Jones believes that the prolonged musical tracts are enough to carry the interest. Such hiatuses seem all the more out of place in contrast to the lively performances of the cast.
Bill Bankes-Jones, Scottish Opera provides a remarkably fresh yet faithful vision of the fairytale.
The only negative is Bankes-Jones’ translation from German to English which is variously: banal, silly, impenetrable and anachronistic with far too much slang used which diverts attention from the lyricism of the music. Yet it remains an enjoyable and approachable piece of opera with as much fun on offer as many a panto but with the additional benefit of some euphonic music and attractive performances.
Into the woods with Scottish Opera's Hansel and Gretel
Home sweet home: taking Hansel & Gretel back to its roots for Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera's Hansel and Gretel a sweet yet nourishingn delight
Theatre Royal, Glasgow from Saturday February 4, 2012, until Sunday February 12, 2012. Performances on the 4th, 8th, 10th and 12th.. More info: www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyalglasgow/
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday February 14, 2012, until Saturday February 18, 2012. Performances on 14th, 16th and 18th.. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival
RSS feed of Opera reviews