Hansel und Gretel has probably been performed and recorded in English translation more than any other foreign language opera, due at least in part to widespread efforts to market it as a "starter" opera for children, and therefore make it as user-friendly as possible. Chandos' admirable Opera in English series has produced many landmark English language recordings, including works like Lulu and The Makropulos Case, but with so many fine translated versions of Hansel and Gretel available, this might seem to be the one opera ...
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Hansel und Gretel has probably been performed and recorded in English translation more than any other foreign language opera, due at least in part to widespread efforts to market it as a "starter" opera for children, and therefore make it as user-friendly as possible. Chandos' admirable Opera in English series has produced many landmark English language recordings, including works like Lulu and The Makropulos Case, but with so many fine translated versions of Hansel and Gretel available, this might seem to be the one opera that needn't be tackled. Several things, though, make it a valuable addition to the catalog. Not least is the excellent new translation by David Pountney. It's less literal than traditional versions, but it's clever and poetic, and hearing the opera begin with a verse other than "Susie, little Susie, pray what is the news" is hugely refreshing. Charles Mackerras' conducting captures the score's broad romantic sweep, but he doesn't quite pull off the difficult trick of making the...
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