Media Release: Hansel and Gretel go back to their roots

Misty winter forest

THIS February, Scottish Opera’s production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel features the first new translation of the opera in the UK for 25 years.

In this new translation, director, Bill Bankes-Jones (artistic director of Tête à Tête and its contemporary opera festival), takes the opera back to its roots, with dialogue true to the original libretto and a focus on rich characterisation.

French conductor, Emmanuel Joël-Hornak, who was last with the company for Verdi’s La traviata in 2008, returns to conduct Humperdinck’s lush, folk-inspired score.

Former Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist, Kai Rüütel, sings Hansel, with Irish soprano Ailish Tynan as Gretel (fresh from the same role at Covent Garden), Leah-Marian Jones as the Witch, Paul Carey Jones as Peter and The John Mather Charitable Trust Scottish Opera Emerging Artist and Radio 2 Dame Kiri Prize winner, Shuna Scott Sendall, singing Gertrude.

Featuring a children’s chorus of 22, a host of 14 angels and an orchestra of 65, the  traditional staging of this new production makes for a lustrous, enchanting  tale true to the Grimm’s original fairytale.

Running time approx. 2 hours.

Opening Night: Saturday 4 February, 7.15pm, Theatre Royal Glasgow.

-ENDS-

www.scottishopera.org.uk

For additional press details please contact:

Kerryn Kirkpatrick, press manager, 0141 242 0511, kerryn.kirkpatrick@scottishopera.org.uk

Emma York, Press Officer, 0141 242 0552, emma.york@scottishopera.org.uk

Performance dates

Theatre Royal Glasgow

Sat 4 Feb, Wed 8 Feb, Fri 10 Feb, 7.15pm

Sun 12 Feb 4pm*+

Hansel and Gretel Unwrapped

Tue 7 Feb 6pm

Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Tue 14 Feb, Thu 16 Feb, Sat 18 Feb*+, 7.15pm

Hansel and Gretel Unwrapped

Wed 15 Feb 6pm

* Pre-show talk

+ Audio-described performance/Touch tour

MEDIA RELEASE posted by Scottish Opera. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.

Contact: Emma York
Phone: 0141 242 0552
Email: emma.york@scottishopera.org.uk
Website: http://www.scottishopera.org.uk