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Hänsel und Gretel
This performance of Hänsel und Gretel features some of the fine house singers of the Bayerische Staatsoper including Astrid Varnay as the Mother. In her later years, Varnay decided to give up the nomadic life of a jet-setting diva in favor of a steady job as a Fest singer and settled in Munich where she continued to perform until as late as 1995. By 1977 Varnay's voice was a little shop-worn, but she manages the demands of the mother with aplomb including an impressive high B. Helena Jungwirth and Marianne Seibel are a charming pair as Hansel and Gretel. There is a slight buzz throughout.
Track List
Act I
1. Overture
2. Suse, Hebe Suse, was raschelt im Stroll?
3. Brüderchen, komm tanz mit mir
4. Holla!.. Die Mutter!
5. Ra-la-la-la, ra-la-la-la, heissa Mutter, ich bin da!
6. Wenn sie sich verirrten im Walde dort
2. Suse, Hebe Suse, was raschelt im Stroll?
3. Brüderchen, komm tanz mit mir
4. Holla!.. Die Mutter!
5. Ra-la-la-la, ra-la-la-la, heissa Mutter, ich bin da!
6. Wenn sie sich verirrten im Walde dort
Act II
7. Hexenritt
8. Ein Männlein steht im Walde ganz still und stumm
9. Der kleine Sandmann bin ich, st!
10. Abends will ich schlafen gehn,
11. Pantomime
8. Ein Männlein steht im Walde ganz still und stumm
9. Der kleine Sandmann bin ich, st!
10. Abends will ich schlafen gehn,
11. Pantomime
Act III
12. Der kleine Taumann heiss' ich
13. Wo bin ich? Wach' ich?
14. Wie duftet's von dorten
15. Knusper, knusper Knäuschen, wer knuspert mir am Häuschen?
16. Halt! Hokus pokus, Hexenschuss!
17. Hurr hopp hopp hopp, Galopp lopp lopp,
18. Auf, wach auf, mein Jüngelchen
19. Juch-hei! Nun ist die Hexe tot,
20. Erlöst, befreit, für alle Zeit!
21. Vater! Mutter!
13. Wo bin ich? Wach' ich?
14. Wie duftet's von dorten
15. Knusper, knusper Knäuschen, wer knuspert mir am Häuschen?
16. Halt! Hokus pokus, Hexenschuss!
17. Hurr hopp hopp hopp, Galopp lopp lopp,
18. Auf, wach auf, mein Jüngelchen
19. Juch-hei! Nun ist die Hexe tot,
20. Erlöst, befreit, für alle Zeit!
21. Vater! Mutter!
Customer Reviews
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4.0
Based on 2 reviews
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
Astrid Varnay Should've Been the Witch, But...
There is an established tradition when Hansel und Gretel is performed of casting a man as the Witch. This started early on in the work's history and, in all fairness, there have been some exceptional male Witches: Karl Donch, Peter Schreier, Philip Langridge, Heinz Zednik, and the Witch here, David Thaw. He is very funny, sings the role well, and has a great cackle. All the same, it is a great pity that the Bavarian State Opera didn't ask Varnay to be the Witch when she still could've done it so well (the Met asked her later on, but Varnay thought it would be too much on her knees by then). She is terrific as the Mother, easily making the role's high B. In fact, it would've even better had she sung both roles in the same performance. But that's not what happened.Jung and Seibel are great as the siblings, their years of performing together really paying off in their duets together. Nocker is first-rate as the father. The Sandman and Dew Fairy are well-sung as well. Bender knows the score well and leads an enjoyable performance.I think this was derived from a house tape, the voices always clearly heard over the orchestra. It sounds pitched correctly too. If not great, it's not a deterrent to the listening experience.Andy lists this as being from 1977, but I think it's from a decade or so earlier. At any rate, if you love this opera as I do you'll enjoy this performance.
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✓ Top Reviewer
United States
David Reynolds
This is a fun performance though not as polished as one would like from this source. The two siblings sing well and are evidently having a good time. If it matters to you, Seibel does not sing the top D in Act Three. Varnay is excellent as the Mother though I for one regret she didn't sing the Witch as well. She stated in her autobiography that she would've loved to do the part. From the condition of her voice here, I think this was probably recorded back in the late 60's despite the date on the CD cover. David Thaw was a member of the Bavarian State Opera for years and he enjoys himself here although he doesn't do anything particularly distinguished.
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