Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-04-09
THE ROYAL OPERA.
popuIar Pieces -'Hansel and Gretel''
sung In Germany.

"Hansel and Crete" very pretty anc
nopular opera which is frequently giver
bsre in Dresden, never fails to interest
both old and young. The text OF thi.
opera was written by Adelheid Wette
and strictly follows Grimm Old fairy
story OF "Hansel and GreteI."
The charming aud refreshing music Is
the work OF Engelbert Humperdnek
The first act represents the miserable
interior OF little hut-the home OF
"peter," the broom maker. Only the
children are at home; Iansel is busy
binding brooms, and his sister is knit
ting and singing old nursery songs.
Both children are very hungry, but
.Gretel seems to be Differentiated than
her brother whom she finally leads into a
childish dance aud frolic, which is in
trrrupted by the entrance of their mot her,
who 4eolds them for being idle, and ms a
punishment sends them into the woods
10 pick berries.
After the children have gone out Wit h
their basket. the mother falls asleep in
her chair; she il awakened by the en-
trance Of her hus hand, who comes in sing
ias. viii, large basket OF provisions ON
MS arm. The wife is delighted with this
unusual good luck OF her husband and
jmmcd 5Htcly begins to prepare the even
iay meal The father inquiries for the
children. and The mother tells him that
-hr has sent them into the forest to
rather berries Both parents become
very much alarmed when the father re-
mem hers that a licked fairy who entices
children into her gingerbread house in
IN order To bake and desour them, lives
intHc forest.
Tire duet, y htch is here sung by the ex
cited aud anxious parents before they
rush Of in search OF their children. Is
y,ry impressive. The parts are not al
Ways taken by the same singers, except
the part OF Girctcl, which j. always sung
ny Fraulcin Wcdekind. who, in her
charming Interpretation OF the natural
nt,- Of G5reigf, I'm. Won for herself a " Idle
and euy.able reputation.
The second act j. laid near the Witch's
house. The children have tiiIed their bias
K; with berries, and Han-el crowns
Gfetel 18th q wreath Of her own max ing
while they listen to the singing Of the
birds, and eHt berries from the basket.
Their childish play continues Until,
frightened, they observe hat they have
oaten MI he berrics, aud it has grown too
dark to pick more, or To find their way
home. GREETED begins to cry, but lIansel
takes her in ms strong arms and quiet-
her until they both grow sleepy.
The sand man comes, but before they
20 10 sleep they both say their evening
prayer asking the protection OF the an
gels Right here he scenic effect : most
hesuti tul heaven opens and fourteen
guardian angels are seen descending the
golden s:air- To watch over the sleeping
children.
The third act shows the children swak
encd from their beautiful angel dream,
blythe angel OF dew, who showers them
with drops OF crystal. Suddenly they no.
tee the cake and sugar house OF the
witch. and approaching 1t cautiously,
they break of little pieces, but they are
startled hy the appearance of the " lcked
witch " no glides softly out OF the house
and throws rope about Hansel.
The frightened children try to escape,
but the witch RAISES her magic staff, and
keeps them spellhound. Hansel is put
into a small stable and given almonds and
currants TO eat that he may grow fat
enough tor roasting. Gretel Is sent into
the house where she IS 10 make herself
useful
In he meantime the witch has kindled
the fire IN the oven, and Selling broom
she rides on 1t around the house, singing
wildly. This i the place where the chill
dren in he audience look rs II they be-
lieved there We're real witches III the
world. The adults say to each other:
''How well the lying machine works. -
After the witch has returned from her
apparently exhausting broom ride, and
while her back Is turned, Gretel quickly
takes the juniper bough and descendants
her brother. The witch i nov busy at
the oven, and calls Gretel TO get into IL to
IL the honey cakes are ready, but
Gretel pretend. not to understand the
directions OF the witch, and begs her to
show her how she Is to get into the oven.
The impatient witch bends forward, and
Gretel assisted by her brother, who has
just escaped from his prison, pushes her
into the hot oven and slams the iron
door. The wicked witch burns 10 ashes.
while the oven cracks and rusrs and
finally falls to pieces
Hansel and Gretel look IN surprise Al
the long row OF children from whom the
honey-crust has fallen off. llan-,l >e,ke~
the juniper bough, and working the
charm recalls all the candy children teliie
again. While he is receiving the thanks
OF the children, he hears his father aud
mother calling. The parents enter, and
are overjoyed TO find their children safe
and happy, for " Inch they return thank
to heaven.
Fir other day / heard story that
gr,stly Interested me. II wa- Ia CON
nection with the much beloved queen Il
saxony and this opera OF "lian-sl aud
Gretel.' This opera had been given ia