Description
The fame of the German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) rests essentially on one opera – Hans and Gretel (1893). Its creation stemmed from a request from the composer’s sister, Adelheid, for four songs for her children’s Christmas puppet show. The songs’ popularity inspired Humperdinck to expand the music to create a fully-blown opera based on Adelheid’s adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The unabashedly Wagnerian fairy-tale opera gained much praise, and became quickly established as a beloved Christmas family tradition.
At the conclusion of Act 2 Hansel and Gretel find themselves lost and frightened in the woods. As darkness descends the Sandman (a character introduced by Adelheid) appears and the children grow sleepy. They settle down for the night, singing the gentle, chorale-like Evening Prayer (Abendsegen). Once they have drifted off, 14 angels descend from heaven to protect the siblings as they sleep.
