# Hansel and Gretel A Fairy Opera in Three Acts - Engelbert Humperdinck Adelheid Wette

An episode of [Hänsel and Gretel: A Fairy Opera in Three Acts](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1896938953), 17 Jun 2026, 1 h 07 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72568996/hansel_and_gretel_a_fairy_opera_in_three_acts_engelbert_humperdinck_adelheid_wette.mp3

Adelheid Wette asked that her older brother, Engelbert Humperdinck, compose music for some children's song lyrics she had written. That simple request led to a sibling collaboration for a much loved Grand Opera enjoyed by audiences the world over. This audio book is a recitation of the libretto written by Adelheid Wette for HÄNSEL AND GRETEL, A FAIRY OPERA IN THREE ACTS. (Summary by Brian Fullen) Cast List: Peter, Broom-maker, husband of Gertrude, father of Hänsel and Gretel: Alan Mapstone Gertrude, wife of Peter, mother of Hänsel and Gretel: The Countess Hänsel: valroth Gretel: Norah Nelson The Witch, who eats children: Sonia Sandman, the Sleep Fairy, also the voice of Cuckoo and Echo: David Purdy Dewman, the Dawn Fairy: MajorToast Children: Brian Fullen Stage Directions: Estefanía Vidal Editing: Brian Fullen This episode includes AI-generated content.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: Playbill of Hansel and Gretel, a faery opera in three acts.
[0:05] Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
[0:08] Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
[0:13] Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Hansel and Gretel, a faery opera
[0:17] Speaker 1: in three acts by alhaied Vetta and Engelbert Humperdink.
[0:22] Speaker 2: Argument Hansel and Gretel is an opera in three acts.
[0:27] Speaker 2: The music by Hengelbert Humperdink and the libretto by adelheide Vede.
[0:33] Speaker 2: It is the German version of the old nursery legend
[0:37] Speaker 2: Babes in the Wood. The first scene discloses a wretched homestead.
[0:43] Speaker 2: The two children, Hansel and Gretel, are at work, the
[0:48] Speaker 2: boy making brooms and the girl needing stockings. They both
[0:53] Speaker 2: complain of feeling very hungry, and there isn't a thing
[0:56] Speaker 2: in the house. Yes, there is a jogger milk that
[1:01] Speaker 2: will make nice blanc marsh. When the mother comes home,
[1:05] Speaker 2: Hencel tastes it and Gretel wraps his fingers. He says
[1:10] Speaker 2: he won't work any more and proposes they dance instead.
[1:15] Speaker 2: Gretel is delighted. He is very awkward at first, but
[1:19] Speaker 2: she teaches him the steps, and they are getting along
[1:22] Speaker 2: so famously that they whirl around the room and fall
[1:26] Speaker 2: exhausted on the floor. At this moment, the mother enters,
[1:31] Speaker 2: and she is so angry at seeing them do no
[1:34] Speaker 2: work that she boxes their ears for it. In her excitement,
[1:39] Speaker 2: she gives the milk pitcher a push. It falls off
[1:42] Speaker 2: the table, breaks in pieces, and spills all the milk.
[1:47] Speaker 2: At this she is beside herself and seizes a basket
[1:51] Speaker 2: and tells the children to go to the wood and
[1:54] Speaker 2: pick strawberries. They must not come home until the basket
[1:59] Speaker 2: is full. They run off, while she, weary of life,
[2:04] Speaker 2: sits sobbing herself to sleep. The father is heard in
[2:09] Speaker 2: the distance with a joyous song and enters in a
[2:12] Speaker 2: joyful mood. He wakes up his unhappy wife to tell
[2:17] Speaker 2: that he has sold all his brooms at the fair
[2:20] Speaker 2: for splendid prices, and he shows his basket full of provisions.
[2:26] Speaker 2: Both are thus in fine humor. When he asks where
[2:29] Speaker 2: the children are, she says she send them away in
[2:33] Speaker 2: disgrace to the Ilsenstein. The Elsenstein, he exclaims, where the
[2:40] Speaker 2: witches ride on broomsticks and devour little children. Exclaiming a horror,
[2:47] Speaker 2: she runs out of the house. He after her to
[2:51] Speaker 2: find Hansel on Gretel. The second act shows a forest.
[2:57] Speaker 2: Gretel is making a garland of wild roses while Hensel
[3:01] Speaker 2: is looking for strawberries. In the background is the Ilsenstein.
[3:06] Speaker 2: It is sunset. Hensel crowns Gretel queen of the wood,
[3:12] Speaker 2: and she allows him to taste a strawberry. He gives
[3:15] Speaker 2: her one in return, and little by little they devour
[3:19] Speaker 2: them all. Then they are frightened. They want to pick more,
[3:24] Speaker 2: but is getting too dark. They want to leave, but
[3:28] Speaker 2: cannot find the way. Gretel fears being in the dark,
[3:33] Speaker 2: but Hensel is very brave. She sees faces in trees
[3:37] Speaker 2: and stumps, and he calls out to reassure her. Echo answers,
[3:44] Speaker 2: and he grows frightened too. They huddle together as a
[3:48] Speaker 2: thick mist arises, which hides the background. Gretel, terror stricken,
[3:55] Speaker 2: falls on her knees and hides behind Hensel. At this moment,
[4:00] Speaker 2: a little man appears as the mist rises and quiets them.
[4:06] Speaker 2: It is the Sandman, and he sings them to slumber.
[4:11] Speaker 2: Half awake, they say their evening prayer and sink down
[4:15] Speaker 2: on the moss in each other's arm. A dazzling light
[4:19] Speaker 2: then appears. The mist rolls itself into a staircase, and
[4:23] Speaker 2: angels pass down and group themselves about the two sleeping children.
[4:29] Speaker 2: In the third act, the scene is the same, the
[4:33] Speaker 2: mist still hiding the background, the dawn fairy shakes dewdrops
[4:38] Speaker 2: on the children. They wake, but hancil very lazily. They
[4:44] Speaker 2: both have had dreams of angels coming to see them
[4:48] Speaker 2: with shining wings. The mist now clears away, and in
[4:53] Speaker 2: the background is seen the witch's house with a fence
[4:57] Speaker 2: of gingerbread figures. There are also seen an oven and
[5:02] Speaker 2: a cage. Hensel wants to go inside, and Gretel draws
[5:07] Speaker 2: him back, but Hensel says, the angels begild their footsteps,
[5:12] Speaker 2: and why shouldn't they nibble a bit at the cottage.
[5:17] Speaker 2: They tiptoe to the fence and break off a bit
[5:20] Speaker 2: of the cake. Cautiously. The witch, voice from within, tells
[5:24] Speaker 2: them to go on nibbling. They like the gingerbread. It
[5:29] Speaker 2: suits them famously, and apparently suits her too, as she
[5:33] Speaker 2: watches them from her window. But she comes out of
[5:37] Speaker 2: the house as they are joyously laughing and throws a
[5:41] Speaker 2: rope about Hensel's neck and caresses them. Hensel tries to
[5:47] Speaker 2: get away and calls her names, while she goes on
[5:51] Speaker 2: saying how she loves them both they are such dainty morsels.
[5:56] Speaker 2: Hensel tries to run away and takes Great with him,
[6:01] Speaker 2: but the witch casts a spell on them and they
[6:05] Speaker 2: stand stock still. Then she leads Hensel to the cage
[6:10] Speaker 2: and shuts him in and gives him almonds and raisins
[6:14] Speaker 2: to fatten him up. She loosens Gretel with a magic
[6:18] Speaker 2: stick and says how nice and plump she will be
[6:22] Speaker 2: when she is roasted brown. She opens the oven and
[6:27] Speaker 2: puts more faggots under it, and says the fire will
[6:31] Speaker 2: soon be ripe. To push Gretel in. In her joy,
[6:36] Speaker 2: she rides widely round on a broomstick while Gretel watches
[6:40] Speaker 2: from the house. The witch calls Gretel out and opens
[6:45] Speaker 2: the oven door. Hensel tells Gretel to beware, and the
[6:50] Speaker 2: witch tells her to peep in the oven. Gretel pretends
[6:54] Speaker 2: she does not understand. She secretly disenchants Hensel so that
[7:00] Speaker 2: when the witch bends over and peeps into the oven,
[7:03] Speaker 2: they give her a push and in she goes. Then
[7:07] Speaker 2: they dance widely about. Hensel throws sweet meats out of
[7:13] Speaker 2: the window. The oven cracks open and falls into bits,
[7:18] Speaker 2: while groups of children suddenly surround Hansel and Gretel. Then
[7:23] Speaker 2: they disenchant the gingerbread, children who are very grateful as
[7:28] Speaker 2: they are all dragging the gingerbread which about. The father
[7:32] Speaker 2: and mother come in and are overjoy at finding their
[7:36] Speaker 2: children again. Dramatis persona.
[7:41] Speaker 3: Peter the Broommaker, husband of Gertrude, father of Handsel and Gretel,
[7:48] Speaker 3: read by Alum Mapstone.
[7:50] Speaker 4: Gertrude, wife of Peter, mother of Hansel and Gretel, read
[7:54] Speaker 4: by the Countess.
[7:56] Speaker 5: Hansel read by Valve roatht read by Noah Nelson, The
[8:03] Speaker 5: Witch read by.
[8:04] Speaker 6: Sonya Sandman, read by David Purdy.
[8:09] Speaker 7: Dooman read by Major Toast.
[8:12] Speaker 2: Children read by Grian The Fourteen.
[8:16] Speaker 1: Angels and of Playbills.
[8:26] Speaker 2: Act one of Hensel and Gretel, a fairy opera in
[8:30] Speaker 2: three acts. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
[8:35] Speaker 2: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
[8:38] Speaker 2: please visit LibriVox dot org. Hensel and Gretel a faiye
[8:43] Speaker 2: Opera in three acts by Adelheide, Vette and handelbat Humper, Nick,
[8:50] Speaker 2: Hensel and Gretel. Act one at Home Seene one small,
[8:57] Speaker 2: poorly furnished room. In the background a door, a small
[9:02] Speaker 2: window near it with a view into the forest. On
[9:06] Speaker 2: the left, a fireplace with chimney above it. On the
[9:11] Speaker 2: walls many brooms of various sizes. Hansel sits near the
[9:16] Speaker 2: door making brooms, and Gretel opposite him by the fireplace,
[9:21] Speaker 2: kneeding a stogging.
[9:24] Speaker 8: Sussy, little susy, pray, what is the news? The geese
[9:27] Speaker 8: are running barefoot because they've no shoes. The cobbler has
[9:31] Speaker 8: leather and plenty to spare. Why can't he make the
[9:35] Speaker 8: poor gooseenoo pear?
[9:37] Speaker 5: Then they'll have to go barefoot? Ay a papaia, pray
[9:40] Speaker 5: what's to be done? Who'll give me milk and sugar
[9:43] Speaker 5: for bread?
[9:44] Speaker 3: I have none.
[9:45] Speaker 5: I'll go back to bed and I'll lie there all day.
[9:47] Speaker 5: Whether it's not to eat, then there's nothing to pay.
[9:51] Speaker 8: Then we'll have to go hungry.
[9:54] Speaker 5: If mother would only come home again, Yes, I am
[9:58] Speaker 5: so hungry. I don't know what to do.
[10:01] Speaker 9: For weeks.
[10:02] Speaker 5: I've eat not but Bret, it's very hot it is indeed.
[10:07] Speaker 8: Hush, hansel, don't forget what father said when mother too
[10:11] Speaker 8: wished she were dead. When past bearing is our grief,
[10:15] Speaker 8: then tis heaven will send relief.
[10:17] Speaker 5: Yes, yes, that sounds all very fine, but you know,
[10:20] Speaker 5: all maxims, we cannot dine, Oh gret It would be
[10:24] Speaker 5: such a treat if we had something nice to eat.
[10:28] Speaker 5: Eggs and butter and sewet paste. I've almost forgotten how
[10:32] Speaker 5: they taste, Oh Gretel, I wish hush.
[10:36] Speaker 8: Don't give way to grumps, have patience a while, No
[10:40] Speaker 8: doleful dumps. This wolf will face Hugh, what a sight
[10:44] Speaker 8: looks like a horrid old cross patch? Fright cross patch away,
[10:48] Speaker 8: leave me, I pray, Just let me reach you quickly.
[10:51] Speaker 8: I'll teach you how to make trouble soon mount to
[10:54] Speaker 8: double cross patch cross patch? What is the use growling
[10:58] Speaker 8: and grumbling full of abuse? Off with you, out with you,
[11:01] Speaker 8: Shame on you goose.
[11:03] Speaker 5: Crosspatch away, hard lines, I say, when I am hungry,
[11:07] Speaker 5: surely I can say so, cannot delay, so can't chase away.
[11:11] Speaker 8: So if I am hungry, I'll never say so. We'll
[11:15] Speaker 8: not give way, so chase it away. So that's right now.
[11:19] Speaker 8: If you leave off complaining. I'll tell you a most
[11:22] Speaker 8: delightful secret.
[11:23] Speaker 5: Oh delightful, it must be something nice.
[11:27] Speaker 8: Well, listen, brother kin, won't you be glad? Look here
[11:30] Speaker 8: in the jug, here's fresh milk, twas given to day
[11:34] Speaker 8: by our neighbor, and mother, when she comes back home,
[11:37] Speaker 8: will certainly make us a rice plumage.
[11:42] Speaker 2: Hansel joyfully dances round the room.
[11:46] Speaker 5: Rice blamage. When blamage is anywhere near, then Hansel, Hansel,
[11:51] Speaker 5: Hansel is there. How thick is the cream on the milk?
[11:55] Speaker 5: Let's taste it, oh Gemini, wouldn't I like to drink it?
[11:59] Speaker 2: Taste it?
[12:01] Speaker 8: What Hansel tasting? Aren't you ashamed out with your fingers? Quick,
[12:06] Speaker 8: greedy boy.
[12:08] Speaker 2: Give seim a rap on the fingers.
[12:10] Speaker 8: Get back to your work again, be quick, that we
[12:13] Speaker 8: may both have done in time. If mother comes and
[12:17] Speaker 8: we haven't done right, then badly it will fare with
[12:20] Speaker 8: us to night work again.
[12:24] Speaker 5: No, not for me. That's not my idea at all.
[12:27] Speaker 5: It doesn't suit me. It's such a bore. Dancing is
[12:31] Speaker 5: jolly or far? I'm sure dancing dancing?
[12:35] Speaker 8: Oh yes, that's better.
[12:37] Speaker 4: Far?
[12:37] Speaker 8: And sing a song to keep us in time, one
[12:40] Speaker 8: that our grandmother used to sing us sing, then and
[12:42] Speaker 8: dance in time.
[12:43] Speaker 2: To the singing. Claps her hands.
[12:47] Speaker 8: Brother, come and dance with me. Both my hands. I
[12:50] Speaker 8: offer thee right foot first left foot, then round about
[12:54] Speaker 8: and back again.
[12:56] Speaker 2: Hansel tries to do it, but awkwardly.
[13:00] Speaker 5: I would dance, but don't know how when to jump
[13:03] Speaker 5: and when to bow. Show me what I ought to do,
[13:07] Speaker 5: so that I may dance like you.
[13:10] Speaker 8: With your foot, you tap tap tap with your hands.
[13:12] Speaker 8: You clap, clap, clap, right foot, first left foot, then
[13:16] Speaker 8: round about and back again.
[13:18] Speaker 5: With your hands, you clap, clap, clap with your foot.
[13:21] Speaker 5: You tap tap tap, right foot first left foot, then
[13:25] Speaker 5: round up, bout and back again.
[13:28] Speaker 8: That was very good, indeed, Oh, I'm sure you'll soon succeed.
[13:32] Speaker 8: Try again, and I can see Hansel soon will dance
[13:35] Speaker 8: like me.
[13:36] Speaker 2: Claps her hands.
[13:38] Speaker 8: With your head, you nick nick nick with your fingers.
[13:41] Speaker 8: You click click click right foot first left foot, then
[13:45] Speaker 8: round about and back again.
[13:47] Speaker 5: With your head, you nick nick nick with your fingers,
[13:50] Speaker 5: you click click click, right foot first left foot, then
[13:54] Speaker 5: round about and back again.
[13:57] Speaker 8: Brother, watch what next I do? You must do it
[14:00] Speaker 8: with me too. You to me, your arm must proffer.
[14:03] Speaker 8: I shall not refuse your offer. Come.
[14:07] Speaker 10: I enjoy dances, love to In fact, I like frivolity
[14:13] Speaker 10: and all that kind of thing.
[14:15] Speaker 4: Cha la la tra la la cha la la.
[14:20] Speaker 8: Come and have a twirl, my dearest Hansel, come and
[14:22] Speaker 8: have a turn with me. I pray, come here to me,
[14:25] Speaker 8: Come here to me. I'm sure you can't say, nay.
[14:29] Speaker 5: Go away from me, go away from me. I'm much
[14:32] Speaker 5: too proud for you with little girls. I do not dance,
[14:36] Speaker 5: And so, my dear du.
[14:38] Speaker 8: Go, stupid Hans, conceited Hans. You'll see I'll make you dance.
[14:43] Speaker 8: Cha la la cha la lah cha la lah. Come
[14:48] Speaker 8: and have a twirl, My dearest Hansel, come and have
[14:51] Speaker 8: a turn with me.
[14:52] Speaker 5: I pray, Oh, gretel, dear, oh sister, dear, you're stalking
[14:56] Speaker 5: as a whole.
[14:58] Speaker 8: Oh Hansel, dear, oh dear, do you take me for
[15:02] Speaker 8: a fool with naughty boys. I do not dance, and so,
[15:06] Speaker 8: my dear adieu.
[15:07] Speaker 5: Now don't be cross, you silly goose. You'll see I
[15:11] Speaker 5: make you dance.
[15:13] Speaker 4: Tra na la tra naa trona la.
[15:17] Speaker 8: Come and have a twirl, My dearest Hansel, come and
[15:20] Speaker 8: have a turn with me. I pray, sing lustily Hurrah, Hurrah. Well,
[15:24] Speaker 8: I dance with you, And if the stockings are in holes,
[15:27] Speaker 8: why mother will knit some new.
[15:29] Speaker 5: Tra la la tra la la tra la la, sing lustily,
[15:33] Speaker 5: Hurrah Hurrah, while I dance with you, And if the
[15:37] Speaker 5: shoes are all in holes, why mother will buy some
[15:40] Speaker 5: new trella la trala la tra la la.
[15:45] Speaker 2: They dance around each other as before they didn't, seize
[15:49] Speaker 2: each other's hands, and go round in a circle, quicker
[15:53] Speaker 2: and quicker, until at length they loose their balance and
[15:57] Speaker 2: tumble over one another on the floor. Scene too. At
[16:03] Speaker 2: this moment the door opens the mother appears, where upon
[16:07] Speaker 2: the children jump up quickly.
[16:10] Speaker 8: Hello, hass here's mother.
[16:13] Speaker 4: What's all this? Mistervious?
[16:15] Speaker 8: Twas handel? He wanted twads, Grettel, she said.
[16:19] Speaker 4: I silence, I don't ill behave children.
[16:24] Speaker 2: The mother comes in, unstraps the basket and puts it down.
[16:29] Speaker 4: Call you it working you ling and singing as oh
[16:32] Speaker 4: for a fair time, hopping and springing, and while your parents,
[16:36] Speaker 4: from early morning till late at night are sleeping and oiling.
[16:41] Speaker 2: Take that gives Hansel a box on the ear.
[16:46] Speaker 4: Now come, let's see what you've done. Why, Gretel, you're
[16:49] Speaker 4: stalking not ready yet? And you, you lazybones, have you
[16:54] Speaker 4: nothing to show? Pray, how many peasants have you finished?
[16:59] Speaker 4: I'll fetch bry stick you useless children and make your
[17:02] Speaker 4: idle figures ingle.
[17:04] Speaker 2: In her indignation at the children, she gives the milk
[17:08] Speaker 2: jug a push so that it falls off the table
[17:11] Speaker 2: with a smash.
[17:13] Speaker 4: Gracious, that goes a jug all to pieces? What now
[17:17] Speaker 4: can I cook for supper?
[17:19] Speaker 2: She looks at her dress, down which the milk is streaming,
[17:24] Speaker 2: hancil coveredly titters.
[17:27] Speaker 4: How saucy? How dare you laugh?
[17:32] Speaker 2: Goes with a stick after Hanzel, who runs out at
[17:35] Speaker 2: the open door.
[17:38] Speaker 4: Wait, wait till the father comes home.
[17:41] Speaker 2: With sudden energy, she snatches a basket from the wall
[17:45] Speaker 2: and pokes it into Gretel's hands.
[17:49] Speaker 4: Off after the wood, the secret strawberries quick away, And
[17:54] Speaker 4: if you don't bring the basket, pringful, I'll whip you
[17:57] Speaker 4: so that you'll both run away.
[17:59] Speaker 2: The chill run off into the wood. She sits down,
[18:03] Speaker 2: exhausted by the table.
[18:05] Speaker 4: Alas there, my poor jog lies, all in pieces. Yes,
[18:12] Speaker 4: blind excitement only brings ruined Oh heavens, and help to
[18:17] Speaker 4: me not if I to get them? No bread, not
[18:21] Speaker 4: a crumb, but my starving children. No crossing the cupboard,
[18:25] Speaker 4: no milk in the part.
[18:27] Speaker 2: Resting her head on her hands.
[18:30] Speaker 4: Were am I we are a living father, Send help
[18:36] Speaker 4: to me.
[18:37] Speaker 2: Lays her head down on her arm and drops to sleep.
[18:43] Speaker 2: Seen three, a voice is heard in the distance.
[18:48] Speaker 3: Trall long, troll law, little mother. Here I am troll law,
[18:57] Speaker 3: troll law, luck and jolly tea rather nearer, Oh for
[19:07] Speaker 3: you and me, poor mother, every day like the other,
[19:13] Speaker 3: with the big hole in the purse and in the stomach,
[19:17] Speaker 3: and even worse. Trala la tra la la hunger is
[19:24] Speaker 3: the poor man's curse. Tra la la tra la la
[19:30] Speaker 3: hunger is the poor man's curse.
[19:34] Speaker 2: The father appears at the window, and during the following
[19:38] Speaker 2: he comes into the room in a very happy mood
[19:41] Speaker 2: with a basket on his back.
[19:43] Speaker 3: Tisn't much that we require, just a little food and fire,
[19:49] Speaker 3: But alas it's true enough, life on some of bus
[19:54] Speaker 3: is rough. Hunger is a customer top. Yes, the rich
[20:00] Speaker 3: enjoys his dinner, while the poor grows daily thinner strives
[20:06] Speaker 3: to eat as well. He may somewhat less than yesterday.
[20:12] Speaker 3: Tra la la tra la la hunger is the devil
[20:18] Speaker 3: to pay. Tra la la tra la la, hunger is
[20:24] Speaker 3: the devil to pay.
[20:27] Speaker 2: He puts down his basket.
[20:30] Speaker 3: Yes, hunger is very well to feel if you can
[20:34] Speaker 3: get a good square meal. But when there's nought, what
[20:39] Speaker 3: can you do? Supposing the purse be empty too? Tra
[20:45] Speaker 3: la la tra la la, Oh for a drop of
[20:49] Speaker 3: mountain new tra la la tra la la, Mother, Look
[20:56] Speaker 3: what I have brought?
[20:58] Speaker 2: Reels over to his lip been a wife, and gives
[21:01] Speaker 2: her a smacim kiss, mother rubbing her eyes.
[21:05] Speaker 4: Oh ho, who sings in? Singing all round the house?
[21:08] Speaker 4: And trall a lime out of my sleep?
[21:12] Speaker 3: How now the hungry beast within my breast? Or so
[21:17] Speaker 3: for food I could not rest? Tran la lah trum
[21:22] Speaker 3: la lah. Hunger is an urgent beast. Trum la lah
[21:27] Speaker 3: tran la lah pinches noise and gives no rest.
[21:34] Speaker 4: Oh so, and this wild beast you gave him a feast?
[21:37] Speaker 4: His had is filled, to say the least.
[21:41] Speaker 3: Well, yeah, it was a lovely day, don't you think so?
[21:46] Speaker 2: Dear wife wants to kiss her mother, pushing him angrily
[21:52] Speaker 2: away excitedly.
[21:54] Speaker 4: I have done. You've not troubles so bad as I
[21:57] Speaker 4: must keep the house.
[21:59] Speaker 3: Wow, then let us see, my dear, what we have
[22:04] Speaker 3: got to eat today?
[22:07] Speaker 4: Most simple as the bill of fare. Our supper's got
[22:10] Speaker 4: I know not where lader bear silla bear nothing, and
[22:15] Speaker 4: plenty of a despair?
[22:17] Speaker 3: Tra la la tra la lah cheer up? Mother? Poor
[22:22] Speaker 3: here am I bringing luck and jolly tea.
[22:27] Speaker 2: He takes his basket and begins to display the contents.
[22:32] Speaker 3: Look, mother, doesn't all this food please you?
[22:37] Speaker 8: Man?
[22:38] Speaker 4: Man? What's the eye? Ham and butter, flour and sausage?
[22:43] Speaker 4: Eggs a dozen, husband, and they cost a fortune? Turnups
[22:49] Speaker 4: onions and for me nearly half a pound of tea?
[22:55] Speaker 3: Tra la lah trala lah hip hoorah. Won't we have
[23:01] Speaker 3: a festive time?
[23:03] Speaker 4: Trala la trala la hippaay? Won't we have a festive time?
[23:09] Speaker 3: Tra la lah hip urrah? Won't we have a happy time?
[23:16] Speaker 4: Tralla llah hippaay? Won't we have a happy time?
[23:19] Speaker 3: Now? Listen now it all came about.
[23:23] Speaker 4: Now, listen how it all came about.
[23:26] Speaker 2: Father turns the basket topsy turvy and a lot of
[23:30] Speaker 2: potatoes roll out. He seizes her by the arm and
[23:34] Speaker 2: dances around the room, sits down. Meanwhile, the mother packs
[23:40] Speaker 2: away the things, lights, a fire, breaks eggs into a
[23:43] Speaker 2: saucepan et cetera.
[23:46] Speaker 3: Yonder to the town I went, there was to be
[23:50] Speaker 3: a great event, weddings, fares, and preparation for all kinds
[23:56] Speaker 3: of jubilation. Now's my chance to do some selling. And
[24:02] Speaker 3: for that you may be thankful. He who wants a
[24:06] Speaker 3: feast to keep he must scrub and brush and sweep.
[24:11] Speaker 3: So I brought my best goods out, tramp with them
[24:15] Speaker 3: from house to house. Buy bessoms, good to bessoms. Buy
[24:21] Speaker 3: my brushes, Sweep your carpets, sweep your cobwebs. And so
[24:27] Speaker 3: I drove a roaring trade and sold my brushes at
[24:31] Speaker 3: the highest prices. Now make haste with copper platter, Bring
[24:37] Speaker 3: the glasses, bring the kettle. Here's a health to the
[24:41] Speaker 3: besom maker.
[24:43] Speaker 4: Here's health to the besom maker.
[24:46] Speaker 3: But stay, why where are the children? Hands? So grettel,
[24:52] Speaker 3: what's gone with hands?
[24:55] Speaker 4: Gone with hans?
[24:56] Speaker 3: Oh?
[24:56] Speaker 4: Who is to know? At least I do know this.
[25:00] Speaker 4: The jug is smashed to bits?
[25:02] Speaker 3: What the jug is smashed to bits?
[25:07] Speaker 4: And the cream all run away?
[25:10] Speaker 2: Father striking his fist on the table in a rage.
[25:14] Speaker 3: Hang is all? So those little scapegraces have been again
[25:19] Speaker 3: in mischief, been in.
[25:21] Speaker 4: Mischief, I should think so, not had they done but
[25:24] Speaker 4: their mad ranking. As I came home, I could hear
[25:27] Speaker 4: them hopping and cutting the wild escape us until I
[25:30] Speaker 4: was so cross. I give a push, and the jug
[25:32] Speaker 4: of milk was spilt.
[25:34] Speaker 3: And the jug of milk was spilt. Ha ha ha,
[25:38] Speaker 3: such anger, mother, don't take it ill. Seems stupid to me,
[25:44] Speaker 3: I must say, But where where think you? The children can.
[25:49] Speaker 2: Be for aught?
[25:50] Speaker 4: I know at the ilton time.
[25:53] Speaker 3: The Ilsenstein come, come, have a care FETs us.
[26:00] Speaker 2: From the wall.
[26:02] Speaker 4: The Besom just put it away again.
[26:05] Speaker 2: Father lets the room fall and wrings his hands.
[26:09] Speaker 3: My children astray in the gloomy wood, all alone without
[26:14] Speaker 3: moon or stars. Oh heaven, dost thou not know the
[26:20] Speaker 3: awful magic place, the place where the evil one dwells?
[26:25] Speaker 4: The evil one? What meanest thou?
[26:27] Speaker 3: The gobbling nogress?
[26:32] Speaker 2: The mother draws back. The father takes up the broom again.
[26:36] Speaker 4: The gobbling Ogress, But tell me what help was the Besom?
[26:40] Speaker 3: The besm the bosomly, what is it for? They ride
[26:46] Speaker 3: on it? They ride on it. The witches, an old
[26:50] Speaker 3: witch within that wood, doth dwell, And she's in league
[26:55] Speaker 3: with the powers of hell. At midnight hour, when nobody
[27:00] Speaker 3: knows away to the witches dance, she goes up the chimney.
[27:06] Speaker 3: They fly on a broomstick. They hie over hill and
[27:10] Speaker 3: dale or ravene and veil through the midnight air. They
[27:15] Speaker 3: gallop full tear on a broomstick, on a broomstick, hop hop,
[27:21] Speaker 3: hop hop.
[27:22] Speaker 4: The witches, oh horror but the gobbling witch.
[27:27] Speaker 3: And by day they say, she stalks around with a cringing, crunching,
[27:33] Speaker 3: munching sound, and children plump and tender to eat. She
[27:38] Speaker 3: lures with magic gingerbread sweets on evil bent with fell intent,
[27:45] Speaker 3: she lures the children, poor little things in the oven
[27:49] Speaker 3: red hot, She pops all the lot. She shuts the
[27:52] Speaker 3: lid down until they're dumb brown in the oven. In
[27:57] Speaker 3: the oven, the gingerbread.
[28:01] Speaker 4: Children, and the gingerbread children.
[28:04] Speaker 3: Our serve got for dinner, for the opres, for the ogress.
[28:12] Speaker 4: Oh horrah, Heaven help us the children. Oh what shall
[28:18] Speaker 4: we do?
[28:20] Speaker 3: Runs out of the house, Hi, mother, mother, wait for me.
[28:26] Speaker 2: Takes the whiskey bottle from the table and follows her.
[28:30] Speaker 3: We'll both go together, the witch to seek.
[28:34] Speaker 2: The curtain falls quickly, and of Act one at two
[28:46] Speaker 2: of Hansel and Gretel, a fairy opera in three acts.
[28:51] Speaker 2: This is a LibriVox recording Olbrivox recordings are in the
[28:54] Speaker 2: public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
[28:58] Speaker 2: LibriVox dot org. Hensel and Gretel, a fairy Opera in
[29:03] Speaker 2: three acts by Adelhide, Vette and Engelbert Humperdink. Act two.
[29:10] Speaker 2: In the forest scene one, the curtain rises the middle
[29:16] Speaker 2: of the forest. In the background is the Elsenstein, thickly
[29:20] Speaker 2: surrounded by fir trees. On the right is a large
[29:25] Speaker 2: fir tree, under which Gretel is sitting on a mossy
[29:29] Speaker 2: tree trunk and making a garland of wild roses. By
[29:33] Speaker 2: her side lies a nosegay of flowers amongst the bushes.
[29:38] Speaker 2: On the left is Hanzel looking for strawberries. Sunset, Gretel
[29:44] Speaker 2: humming quietly to herself.
[29:51] Speaker 8: There stands a little man in the wood alone. He
[29:54] Speaker 8: wears a little mantle of velvet brown. Say who can
[29:59] Speaker 8: the man can be? Standing there beneath the tree with
[30:03] Speaker 8: the little mantle of velvet brown. His hair is all
[30:06] Speaker 8: of gold, and his cheeks are red. He wears a
[30:09] Speaker 8: little black cap upon his head. Say who can the
[30:13] Speaker 8: man kin be standing there so silently with the little
[30:17] Speaker 8: black cap upon his head.
[30:20] Speaker 2: She holds up the garland of roses and looks it
[30:23] Speaker 2: all round.
[30:24] Speaker 8: With the little black cap upon his head.
[30:27] Speaker 2: Hansel comes out, swinging his basket joyfully.
[30:31] Speaker 5: Hoorah, my strawberry basket is nearly brimfle Oh, won't the
[30:36] Speaker 5: mother be pleased with Hansel?
[30:38] Speaker 2: Gretel standing up.
[30:41] Speaker 8: My garland is ready also. Look, I never made one
[30:45] Speaker 8: so nice before.
[30:46] Speaker 2: Tries to put the wreath on Hansel's head. Hansel, drawing
[30:50] Speaker 2: back roughly, you.
[30:52] Speaker 5: Won't catch a boy wearing that. It is only fit
[30:55] Speaker 5: for a girl, puts the wreath on her. Hah, Gretel
[31:00] Speaker 5: fine feathers, Oh, the deuce, you shall be the queen
[31:03] Speaker 5: of the wood.
[31:04] Speaker 8: If I am to be queen of the wood, then
[31:06] Speaker 8: I must have a nosegay too.
[31:08] Speaker 2: Hensel gives her the nosegay.
[31:11] Speaker 5: Queen of the Wood, with scepter and crown. I give
[31:14] Speaker 5: you the strawberries, but don't eat them all.
[31:17] Speaker 2: He gives the basket full of strawberries into her other hand,
[31:22] Speaker 2: at the same time kneeling before her in homage. At
[31:25] Speaker 2: this moment, the cuckoo is heard.
[31:28] Speaker 5: Cuckoo cuckoo, How do you do?
[31:31] Speaker 8: Cuckoo? Cuckoo? Where are you?
[31:34] Speaker 2: Takes a strawberry from the basket and pokes it into
[31:37] Speaker 2: Hensel's mouth. He sucks it up as though he were
[31:40] Speaker 2: drinking an egg. Hansel, jumping up, Oh, I can do
[31:45] Speaker 2: that just like you, takes some strawberries and lets them
[31:48] Speaker 2: fall into Gretel's mouth.
[31:50] Speaker 5: Let us do like the cuckoo too, who takes what
[31:53] Speaker 5: doesn't belong to him.
[31:55] Speaker 2: It begins to grow dark. Hansel, helping himself again, cook,
[32:00] Speaker 2: how are.
[32:01] Speaker 8: You, cuckoo?
[32:02] Speaker 5: Where are you in your neighbor's nastuko?
[32:05] Speaker 2: Gretel helping herself cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, why do you do so?
[32:12] Speaker 2: Pours a handful of strawberries into his mouth.
[32:15] Speaker 8: And you are very greedy too, Tell me, cuckoo, why
[32:18] Speaker 8: are you?
[32:19] Speaker 9: Cuckoo?
[32:20] Speaker 8: Cuckoo?
[32:21] Speaker 2: They get rude and begin to quarrel for the strawberries.
[32:24] Speaker 2: Hansel gains the victory and puts the whole basket to
[32:28] Speaker 2: his mouth until it is empty. Gretel horrified, clasping her
[32:32] Speaker 2: hands together.
[32:33] Speaker 8: Hanzel, what have you done? Oh heaven? All the strawberries eaten?
[32:39] Speaker 2: You glutton?
[32:40] Speaker 8: Listen, you'll have a punishment from the mother. This passes
[32:44] Speaker 8: a joke.
[32:45] Speaker 5: Now, come, don't make such a fuss, you, Grettel, you
[32:49] Speaker 5: did the same thing yourself.
[32:52] Speaker 8: Come, will hurry and seek for fresh ones.
[32:55] Speaker 5: What here in the dark under hedges and bushes? Why
[32:59] Speaker 5: not can we see your fruital leaves? It's getting dark
[33:03] Speaker 5: already here.
[33:04] Speaker 8: Oh, Hansel, Oh Hansel, Oh what shall we do? What
[33:09] Speaker 8: bad disobedient children we've been? We ought to have thought
[33:13] Speaker 8: and gone.
[33:14] Speaker 2: Home sooner cuckoo behind the scenes, rather nearer than before.
[33:20] Speaker 3: Cu coo coo coo.
[33:22] Speaker 5: Hark, what a noise in the bushes?
[33:25] Speaker 3: Know you?
[33:25] Speaker 5: What the force says?
[33:27] Speaker 3: Children?
[33:28] Speaker 5: Children? It says? Are you not afraid?
[33:31] Speaker 2: Hansel spies all around uneasily. At last, he turns in
[33:36] Speaker 2: despair to Gretel.
[33:38] Speaker 5: Grittel, I cannot find the way.
[33:41] Speaker 2: Gretel dismayed, Oh God, what say you not know the way? Hansel?
[33:47] Speaker 2: Pretending to be very brave?
[33:50] Speaker 5: Why how ridiculous you are? I am a boy, and
[33:53] Speaker 5: no not fear, Oh.
[33:55] Speaker 8: Hansel, some dreadful snake may come, Oh.
[33:58] Speaker 5: Grittele, come, don't be afraid.
[34:01] Speaker 8: What's glimmering there in the darkness?
[34:04] Speaker 5: That's only the birches and silver dress.
[34:07] Speaker 8: But there what's grinning? So there at me?
[34:11] Speaker 5: That's only the stump of a willow tree.
[34:14] Speaker 8: But what a dreadful form it takes, and what a
[34:16] Speaker 8: horrid face it makes.
[34:18] Speaker 5: Come, I'll make faces you, fellow.
[34:21] Speaker 4: Do you hear the.
[34:23] Speaker 8: See a lantern? It's coming this way?
[34:27] Speaker 3: Well?
[34:27] Speaker 5: The wisp is hopping about. Gretel, come, don't lose heart
[34:31] Speaker 5: like this. Wait, I'll give a good loud call.
[34:35] Speaker 2: Goes back some steps to the back of the stage
[34:38] Speaker 2: and calls through his hands, who's there?
[34:42] Speaker 9: You?
[34:42] Speaker 4: There?
[34:43] Speaker 5: There?
[34:43] Speaker 2: The children coward together?
[34:46] Speaker 8: Is someone there?
[34:47] Speaker 7: Where?
[34:48] Speaker 9: Here?
[34:48] Speaker 8: Did you hear a voice said?
[34:50] Speaker 4: Here?
[34:51] Speaker 8: Hansel, Shirley, someone's near. I'm frightened. I'm frightened. I was.
[35:01] Speaker 8: I see the wood all filled with goblin forms.
[35:06] Speaker 5: Gretel, kin, stick to me, close and tight. I'll shelter you.
[35:10] Speaker 5: I'll shelter you.
[35:12] Speaker 2: A thick mist rises and completely hides the background.
[35:17] Speaker 8: I see some shadowy women coming. See how they know?
[35:21] Speaker 8: And becon, becon, they're coming, They're coming. They'll take us away.
[35:27] Speaker 2: Crying out, rushes horror, stroke under the tree and falls
[35:32] Speaker 2: on her knees, hiding herself behind Hansel, father, mother, Ah.
[35:38] Speaker 5: See there the mankin, sister, dear, I wonder who the
[35:41] Speaker 5: mankin is.
[35:43] Speaker 2: At this moment, the mist lifts on the left, a
[35:46] Speaker 2: little gray man is seen with a little sack on
[35:50] Speaker 2: his back. Scene too, Sunman, the sleep fairy. The little
[35:55] Speaker 2: man approaches the children with friendly gestures, and the children
[36:00] Speaker 2: gradually calm down. He's strwing sand in the children's eyes.
[36:05] Speaker 6: I shut the children's peepers, sh and guard the little sleepers,
[36:11] Speaker 6: sh for dearly do I love them? Sh and gladly
[36:15] Speaker 6: watch above them. Sh And with my little bag of
[36:19] Speaker 6: sand by every child's bedside, I stand. Then little tired
[36:25] Speaker 6: eyelids close, and little limbs have sweet repose. And if
[36:30] Speaker 6: they're good and quickly go to sleep. Then from the
[36:33] Speaker 6: starry sphere above the angels come with peace and love
[36:38] Speaker 6: and send the children happy dreams while watch they keep.
[36:42] Speaker 6: Then slumber, children, slumber, for happy dreams are sent to
[36:47] Speaker 6: you through the hours you sleep.
[36:50] Speaker 2: Disappears darkness, hancil half asleep, gretel ditto sandmen.
[36:57] Speaker 8: Was there, Let us first say evening prayer.
[37:01] Speaker 2: They cower down and fold their hands.
[37:04] Speaker 5: When when at night I should sleep, fourteen angels watched
[37:08] Speaker 5: to keep my head guarding to my feet are to
[37:14] Speaker 5: your right hand.
[37:16] Speaker 8: Two you are on my left han hand to warm
[37:21] Speaker 8: to who or me have to whom is given to
[37:26] Speaker 8: the guide myself to heaven.
[37:29] Speaker 2: They sink down on the moss and go to sleep,
[37:33] Speaker 2: with their arms twined round each other. Complete darkness. Scene three.
[37:41] Speaker 2: Here a bright light suddenly breaks through the mist, which
[37:46] Speaker 2: forthwith rolls itself together into the form of a staircase,
[37:51] Speaker 2: vanishing in perspective in the middle of the stage. Fourteen
[37:57] Speaker 2: angels in light floating garments pass down the staircase two
[38:02] Speaker 2: and two at intervals while it is getting gradually lighter.
[38:08] Speaker 2: The angels place themselves according to the order mentioned in
[38:13] Speaker 2: the Evening Hymn, around the sleeping children, the first couple
[38:18] Speaker 2: at their heads, the second at their feet, the third
[38:22] Speaker 2: on the right, the fourth on the left. The fifth
[38:26] Speaker 2: and sixth couples distribute themselves amongst the other couples so
[38:31] Speaker 2: that their circle of the angels is completed. Lastly, the
[38:35] Speaker 2: seventh couple comes into the circle and takes its place
[38:39] Speaker 2: as guardian angels on each side of the children. The
[38:43] Speaker 2: remaining angels now join hands and dance as stately step
[38:49] Speaker 2: around the group. The whole stage is filled with an
[38:53] Speaker 2: intense light, whilst the angels arrange themselves in a picturesque topblau.
[38:59] Speaker 2: The curtain slow falls. End of Act two, Act three
[39:11] Speaker 2: of Hensel and Gretel, a Fairy Opera in three acts.
[39:16] Speaker 2: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
[39:20] Speaker 2: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
[39:23] Speaker 2: visit LibriVox dot org. Hensel and Gretel, a Fairy Opera
[39:28] Speaker 2: in three acts by Adelheide Vetter and Engelbert Homperdink. Act three,
[39:35] Speaker 2: the Witch's House. Scene one. The curtain rises, seen the
[39:41] Speaker 2: same as the end of Act two. The background is
[39:45] Speaker 2: still hidden in mist, which gradually rises. During the following.
[39:50] Speaker 2: The angels have vanished. Morning is breaking. The dawn Ferry
[39:54] Speaker 2: steps forward and shakes dew drops from a bluebell over
[39:59] Speaker 2: the sleeping chain. Duman, don't Ferry.
[40:03] Speaker 7: I'm up with early dawning, and know who loves the morning?
[40:08] Speaker 7: Who rise fresh as daisy, who sink in slumber lazy
[40:13] Speaker 7: ding dong, ding dong, And with the golden light of day,
[40:19] Speaker 7: I chase the fading night away, fresh dew around me, shaking,
[40:24] Speaker 7: and helen Dale awaking. Then up with all your.
[40:28] Speaker 11: Powers, enjoy the morning hours, the scent of trees and flowers.
[40:35] Speaker 11: Then up ye sleepers awaken. The rosy dawn is smiling.
[40:42] Speaker 11: Then up ye sleepers awake.
[40:46] Speaker 2: Awake, her is off singing. The children begin to stir.
[40:51] Speaker 2: Gretel rubs her eyes, looks around her and raises herself
[40:56] Speaker 2: a little, whilst Hansel turns over on the other side
[41:00] Speaker 2: to go to sleep again.
[41:02] Speaker 8: Where am I waking? Or do I dream? How come
[41:07] Speaker 8: I in the wood to lie high in the branches?
[41:10] Speaker 8: I hear a gentle twittering birds are beginning to sing
[41:14] Speaker 8: so sweetly from early dawn. They are all awake and
[41:18] Speaker 8: warble their mourning hymn of praise. Dear little singers, little singers,
[41:24] Speaker 8: good morning.
[41:26] Speaker 2: Turns to Hansel.
[41:27] Speaker 8: See there the sleepy lazy bones. Wait now, I'll wake him.
[41:32] Speaker 8: Tear learily, it's getting late. Tearlearily, it's getting late. The
[41:37] Speaker 8: larkst flight is winging on high, his matins, singing tear learly,
[41:42] Speaker 8: tear liarly.
[41:43] Speaker 2: Hancil suddenly jumps up with a start.
[41:46] Speaker 5: Kick Ara key, it's early yet, kickera key, it's early yet, Yes,
[41:52] Speaker 5: the day is dawning. Awake for it is morning. Kickera key,
[41:57] Speaker 5: kickera key, I feel so well. I know not why
[42:00] Speaker 5: I never slept so well? No, not I, but listen.
[42:04] Speaker 8: Hans here neath the tree, A wondrous dream was sent
[42:07] Speaker 8: to me.
[42:08] Speaker 5: Really, I too had a dream.
[42:11] Speaker 8: I fancied. I heard a murmuring and rushing, as though
[42:15] Speaker 8: the angels in heaven were singing. Rosy clouds above me
[42:19] Speaker 8: were floating, hovering and floating in the distance away sudden,
[42:23] Speaker 8: all around a light was streaming rays of glory from
[42:27] Speaker 8: heaven beaming, and a golden ladder saw I descending angels
[42:32] Speaker 8: down and gliding. Such lovely angels was shining golden wings.
[42:38] Speaker 5: Fourteen angels there must have been.
[42:41] Speaker 8: And did you also behold all this?
[42:44] Speaker 5: Truly twas wondrous, fair and upward? I saw them float.
[42:49] Speaker 2: He turned towards the background. At this moment, the last
[42:53] Speaker 2: remains of the mist clear away. In place of the
[42:57] Speaker 2: fir trees, is seen the Witch's house at the Ilsenstein,
[43:01] Speaker 2: shining in the rays of the rising sun. A little
[43:04] Speaker 2: distance off to the left is an oven. Opposite this,
[43:09] Speaker 2: on the right a large cage, both joined to the
[43:13] Speaker 2: witch's house by a fence of gingerbread. Figures. Scene two,
[43:19] Speaker 2: Gretel holds hanciled back in astonishment.
[43:22] Speaker 5: Stand still, be still, Oh heaven, what what resplaces? This
[43:29] Speaker 5: as narrow? All my life have I seen.
[43:31] Speaker 2: Gretel gradually regains her self possession?
[43:35] Speaker 8: What odor delicious?
[43:38] Speaker 3: Oh?
[43:38] Speaker 5: Say, do I dream a cottage made of chocolate cream?
[43:44] Speaker 2: The roof is all covered with.
[43:45] Speaker 10: Turkish delight, the windows with luster of sugar, iron white,
[43:50] Speaker 10: and on all the gables the raisins fight. I think
[43:53] Speaker 10: all round is a gingerbread had Oh.
[43:56] Speaker 5: Magic castle? How nice you beat? Where high?
[44:00] Speaker 10: It's the princess who has visit our little cottage.
[44:05] Speaker 8: Bear, she'd ask us to dinner her dainties to.
[44:08] Speaker 2: Share, Hansel? After a while, no.
[44:12] Speaker 5: Sound do I hear? No, nothing is stirring.
[44:15] Speaker 2: Come, let's go inside, Gretel pulling him back, horrified.
[44:21] Speaker 8: Are you senseless?
[44:22] Speaker 5: Hansel?
[44:23] Speaker 8: However can you make so bold? Who knows whom I
[44:27] Speaker 8: lived there in that lovely house? Oh?
[44:30] Speaker 5: Look to look how the house seems to smile? Oh
[44:35] Speaker 5: the angels? Did our footsteps beakuile?
[44:38] Speaker 8: The angels? Yes, it must be so.
[44:42] Speaker 5: Yes, Gretel, the angels are beckoning us. In Come, let's
[44:47] Speaker 5: nibble a bit on the cottage.
[44:49] Speaker 10: Come, let's nibble it to persevering.
[44:55] Speaker 2: They hope along hand in hand towards the back of
[44:58] Speaker 2: the stage, then stand still, and then still along cautiously
[45:04] Speaker 2: on tiptoe to the house. After some hesitation, Hansel breaks
[45:09] Speaker 2: off a bit of cake from the right hand corner
[45:12] Speaker 2: seen three. A voice from the house.
[45:17] Speaker 9: Nibbling nibble mouse? Akin, who's nibbling at my house?
[45:21] Speaker 8: Akin?
[45:22] Speaker 9: Who's nibbling at my house?
[45:25] Speaker 3: Akin?
[45:26] Speaker 2: Hansel starts and in his fright lets the piece of
[45:30] Speaker 2: cake fall. Oh did you hear, Gretel? Somewhat timidly?
[45:35] Speaker 8: The wind, the wind, the heavenly wind.
[45:40] Speaker 2: Gretel picks up the piece of cake and taste it.
[45:44] Speaker 3: Mm.
[45:46] Speaker 2: Hansel looking longingly at Gretel. Do you like it, Gretel?
[45:53] Speaker 2: Let's Hansel bite it?
[45:55] Speaker 8: Just taste and try it.
[45:57] Speaker 2: Hansel lays his hand on his breast in rapture. Gretel,
[46:01] Speaker 2: Tito hi hi hi hikake.
[46:08] Speaker 5: Somewhere I must take.
[46:10] Speaker 2: It's really like to.
[46:12] Speaker 8: Eat such plumcake.
[46:15] Speaker 9: Oh how good?
[46:16] Speaker 8: Oh sweet?
[46:17] Speaker 5: How tasty?
[46:19] Speaker 8: How tasty? How sweet? It's perhaps the house of the
[46:22] Speaker 8: sweetie maker.
[46:24] Speaker 5: Hi, sweety maker, have a care a little mouse, you're
[46:28] Speaker 5: sweeties would share?
[46:30] Speaker 2: He breaks a big piece of cake off the wall.
[46:33] Speaker 9: Neb neven mouse, A king who's nibbling at my house?
[46:38] Speaker 9: A kin?
[46:39] Speaker 5: The wind, the wind, the heavenly wind.
[46:43] Speaker 2: The upper part of the house door opens gently, and
[46:46] Speaker 2: the witch's head is seen at it. The children at
[46:50] Speaker 2: first do not see her, and go on festing merrily.
[46:54] Speaker 8: Wait, you gobbling mousekin, here comes the cat from.
[46:57] Speaker 2: The housekin, Hansel, take in another bite.
[47:01] Speaker 5: It, would you please? And leave me in peace?
[47:05] Speaker 2: Gretel snatches the piece from his hand.
[47:08] Speaker 8: Don't be unkind, Sir wind, Sir Wind.
[47:10] Speaker 2: Hansel takes it back from her heavenly wind.
[47:14] Speaker 5: I take what I find. Ha ha.
[47:21] Speaker 2: The witch, who had meanwhile opened the hall door and
[47:25] Speaker 2: had been rarely stealing up to the children, throws a
[47:29] Speaker 2: rope round the neck of Hensel, who, without enemisgivings, turns
[47:34] Speaker 2: his back to her.
[47:36] Speaker 8: Hensel horror struck.
[47:41] Speaker 5: Let go, who are you?
[47:43] Speaker 8: Let me go?
[47:45] Speaker 2: The witch, drawing the children towards.
[47:48] Speaker 9: Her, angels booth and goosey Ganders, caresses the children. You've
[47:56] Speaker 9: come to visit me. That is sweet, you charming children,
[48:02] Speaker 9: so nice to eat.
[48:05] Speaker 2: Hansel makes despairing efforts to free himself.
[48:09] Speaker 4: Who are you, ugly one?
[48:11] Speaker 9: Let me go now, darling? Don't you give yourself airs,
[48:17] Speaker 9: dear heart, what makes you say such things? I am rosina,
[48:22] Speaker 9: dainty mouth and dearly love my fellow man, I'm art.
[48:28] Speaker 9: This is a newborn child. That's why the children to
[48:32] Speaker 9: me are so dear, so dear, so dear, so charming to.
[48:41] Speaker 2: Eat caresses Hansel, Hansel, turning roughly away, Go get.
[48:47] Speaker 4: You gone from my sight.
[48:49] Speaker 9: I hate I know you quite hee, these dainty morsels.
[48:56] Speaker 9: I'm really gloating on and you, my little maid, and
[49:00] Speaker 9: I'm doting on. Come little mousey, come into my house. See,
[49:06] Speaker 9: come with me, my precious. I'll give you sweetmeats delicious
[49:13] Speaker 9: of chocolate tarts and marzipan. You shall both eat all
[49:18] Speaker 9: you can, and wedding cake and strawberry ices blamche and
[49:24] Speaker 9: everything else that nices and raisins and almonds and peaches
[49:30] Speaker 9: and citrons are waiting. You will both find it quite captivating, Yes,
[49:39] Speaker 9: quite captivating.
[49:42] Speaker 5: I won't come with you hideous, right, you are quite
[49:45] Speaker 5: too friendly.
[49:47] Speaker 9: See cc how sly, dear children. You really may trust
[49:53] Speaker 9: me in this, and living with me will be perfect bliss.
[49:58] Speaker 9: Come little mouse see, come into my housey, Come with me,
[50:04] Speaker 9: my precious. I'll give you sweetmeats, delicious.
[50:10] Speaker 8: But say, what will you with my brother do?
[50:14] Speaker 9: Well? Well, I'll feed and fatten him up well with
[50:19] Speaker 9: every sort of dainty delicious to make him tender and tasty.
[50:25] Speaker 9: And if he's brave and patient too, and docile and
[50:30] Speaker 9: obedient like a lamb, then hanseel, I'll whisper it you.
[50:36] Speaker 9: I'll have a great treat in store for you.
[50:42] Speaker 5: Then speak out loud and whisper not. What is the
[50:45] Speaker 5: great treat in store for me?
[50:47] Speaker 9: Yes, my dear children, hearing and sight in this great
[50:52] Speaker 9: pleasure will disappear quite.
[50:57] Speaker 5: Both my hearing and seeing are good. You better take
[51:00] Speaker 5: care you do me no harm. Gretel trust not her
[51:04] Speaker 5: fluttering words. Come, sister, come, let's run away.
[51:09] Speaker 2: He has, in the meantime, got out of the rope
[51:12] Speaker 2: and runs with Gretel to the foreground. Here they are
[51:17] Speaker 2: stopped by the witch, who imperiously rises against them both
[51:21] Speaker 2: a stick which hangs at her girl with repeated gestures
[51:26] Speaker 2: of spellbinding.
[51:28] Speaker 3: Hold.
[51:30] Speaker 2: The stage becomes gradually darker.
[51:34] Speaker 9: Hocus Pocus, witches, charm. Move not as you fear my
[51:40] Speaker 9: arm back or forward. Do not try fix it. You
[51:45] Speaker 9: are by the even eye, head and shoulders fixed A
[51:50] Speaker 9: rye hocus pocus now comes joke. As children watch the
[51:56] Speaker 9: magic head, eyes are staring dull as led. Now you
[52:01] Speaker 9: at him off to bed fresh gestures.
[52:06] Speaker 2: Then she leads Hansel, who is gazing fixedly at the
[52:10] Speaker 2: illuminated head, into the stable and shuts the lattice door
[52:15] Speaker 2: upon him.
[52:16] Speaker 9: Hocus pocus bonus jokeers malice locus. Hocus pocus bonus jokeus
[52:25] Speaker 9: malice locus.
[52:28] Speaker 2: The stage gradually becomes lighter, whilst the light of the
[52:32] Speaker 2: magic head diminishes. The witch contentently to Gretel, who still
[52:37] Speaker 2: stands there motionless.
[52:39] Speaker 9: Now, Gretel, be obedient and wise, while Hanseel's growing fat
[52:45] Speaker 9: and nice. We'll feed him up. You'll see my reason,
[52:50] Speaker 9: And with sweet almonds and raisin season I'll go indoors
[52:55] Speaker 9: the things to prepare, and you remain here.
[52:59] Speaker 2: Where you're She grins as she holds up her finger
[53:03] Speaker 2: warningly and goes into the house. Gretel stiff and motionless.
[53:09] Speaker 8: Oh what a horde which she is.
[53:12] Speaker 5: Gretel, sh don't speak so loud, be very sharp, watch
[53:17] Speaker 5: well and see whatever she may do to me. Pretend
[53:20] Speaker 5: to do all she commands.
[53:21] Speaker 4: Oh there she's coming back.
[53:23] Speaker 2: Shush the witch comes out, satisfies herself that Gretel is
[53:29] Speaker 2: still standing motionless, and then spreads before Henzel almonds and
[53:34] Speaker 2: raisins from a basket.
[53:37] Speaker 9: Now, little man, come, prithy, enjoy.
[53:40] Speaker 2: Yourself, sticking a racing into Henzel's mouth.
[53:46] Speaker 9: Eat, minion, eat or die. Here are cakes. Oh so nice.
[53:54] Speaker 2: Turns to Gretel and disenchants her with a juniper branch.
[53:58] Speaker 9: Hope, spoke elder bush. Riched body, loosen, Hush.
[54:05] Speaker 2: Gretel moves again.
[54:07] Speaker 9: Now up and move again, bright and blisome limbs are
[54:11] Speaker 9: become again supple and liesome. Go my poppet, go, my pet.
[54:17] Speaker 9: You the table. Now shall set little knife, little fork,
[54:22] Speaker 9: little dish, little plate, little serviette for my little mate.
[54:28] Speaker 9: Now get everything ready and nice, or else I shall
[54:32] Speaker 9: lock you up too.
[54:33] Speaker 2: In a trice, she threatens and titters. Gretel hurries off
[54:40] Speaker 2: the witch to Hansel, who pretends to be asleep.
[54:44] Speaker 9: The fool is slumbering. It does seem queer how youth
[54:48] Speaker 9: can sleep and have no fear. Well, sleep away, you
[54:53] Speaker 9: simple sheep. Soon you will sleep your last long sleep.
[54:59] Speaker 9: But first with Gretel. I'll begin of you, dear maiden,
[55:04] Speaker 9: I will dine you are so tender, plump and good,
[55:10] Speaker 9: just the thing for witch's food.
[55:14] Speaker 2: She opens the oven door and sniffs in it, her
[55:18] Speaker 2: face lighted up by the deep red glare of the fire.
[55:23] Speaker 9: The dough has risen, so we'll go on preparing. Hark,
[55:28] Speaker 9: how the sticks in the fire are crackling.
[55:32] Speaker 2: She pushes a couple more faggots under the fire, flames up,
[55:37] Speaker 2: and then dies down again, the witch rubbing her hands
[55:41] Speaker 2: with glee.
[55:43] Speaker 9: Yes, grettel mine, how well of you I'll dine? See see, oh,
[55:50] Speaker 9: how sly When in the oven she's peeping quickly behind her,
[55:56] Speaker 9: I'm creeping. One little push beg goes the door clang.
[56:03] Speaker 9: Then soon will grettel be just stand to a tea?
[56:08] Speaker 9: And when from the oven I take her, she look
[56:12] Speaker 9: like a cake from the baker by magic fire, red
[56:17] Speaker 9: changed into gingerbread. See see how s lie.
[56:24] Speaker 2: In her wild delight, she seizes a broomstick and begins
[56:29] Speaker 2: to ride upon it.
[56:31] Speaker 9: So hop, hop, hop, gallop, luplop my broomstick. Nag come
[56:36] Speaker 9: do not leg.
[56:38] Speaker 2: She writes, excitedly, round on the broomstick.
[56:43] Speaker 9: At dawn of day, I ride away and here and
[56:47] Speaker 9: there and everywhere.
[56:50] Speaker 2: She writes again, Gretel, meanwhile, is watching at the window.
[56:55] Speaker 9: At midnight hour, when none can know to join, The
[56:59] Speaker 9: Witch stands, I go and three and four a witches lower,
[57:03] Speaker 9: and five and six a witch's chicks, and nine is one,
[57:08] Speaker 9: and ten is none, and seven is nil. Oh what
[57:12] Speaker 9: she will and does stay ride till dawn of day.
[57:17] Speaker 2: Hoping madly along. She rides to the back of the
[57:21] Speaker 2: stage and vanishes for a time behind the cottage. Here
[57:26] Speaker 2: the witch becomes visible again. She comes to the foreground,
[57:30] Speaker 2: where she suddenly pulls up and dismounts.
[57:33] Speaker 9: Poor bloomstick Hee.
[57:36] Speaker 2: She hobbles back to the stable and tickles Hancil with
[57:39] Speaker 2: a birch twig till he awakes up.
[57:43] Speaker 9: Awake, my mannechine, young, come show it to me a tongue.
[57:49] Speaker 2: Hansel puts his tongue out. The Witch smacks with her tongue.
[57:54] Speaker 9: Dainty Moor, so dainty morsel, little twosome man, And I
[58:00] Speaker 9: can come now, let me see your thumb.
[58:04] Speaker 2: Hensel pokes out a small bone.
[58:08] Speaker 9: Jemmy, and I oh ho oh, how screggy, how lean
[58:13] Speaker 9: huchin youre is greggy? One as bad as a skeleton,
[58:19] Speaker 9: calls Maiden Gretel, Gretel appears at the door, brings some
[58:26] Speaker 9: raisins and almonds. Sweet Hansel wants some more to eat.
[58:32] Speaker 2: Gretel runs into the house and returns immediately with a
[58:35] Speaker 2: basket full of almonds and raisins.
[58:38] Speaker 8: Here the almonds.
[58:40] Speaker 2: Whilst the witch is feeling Hanzel. Gretel gets behind her
[58:44] Speaker 2: and makes the gestures of disenchantment with the juniper branch.
[58:48] Speaker 8: Howki spoke as elderbush ritched body loosen, Hush.
[58:53] Speaker 2: The witch turning suddenly around.
[58:55] Speaker 9: What were you saying, little goose?
[58:59] Speaker 8: Only much good may it do to hans Ey? Much
[59:04] Speaker 8: good may it do to hans.
[59:08] Speaker 9: My little miss, I'll stop your mouth with this.
[59:13] Speaker 2: Sticks a raisin into Gretel's mouth.
[59:16] Speaker 9: Eat, minion, eat or die hera cakes? Oh so nice.
[59:24] Speaker 2: She opens the oven door. The heat has apparently diminished. Meanwhile,
[59:30] Speaker 2: Hansel makes violent signs to Gretel. Hansel softly opening the
[59:34] Speaker 2: stable door.
[59:36] Speaker 5: Sister, dear, oh beware.
[59:39] Speaker 2: The witch looking greedily at Gretel.
[59:42] Speaker 9: She makes my mouth water. This pretty little daughter, come, Gretel, mine,
[59:50] Speaker 9: sugar maiden, mine.
[59:53] Speaker 2: Gretel comes towards her peep.
[59:56] Speaker 9: In the oven. Be steady, see if the gin jeb
[1:00:00] Speaker 9: Bread's ready. Carefully look pet whether it's cooked yet, but
[1:00:06] Speaker 9: if it wants more, shut quick the door.
[1:00:11] Speaker 2: Gretel hesitates, Hansel slipping out of the stable.
[1:00:16] Speaker 5: Sister dear, have a care.
[1:00:19] Speaker 2: Gretel making herself out very awkward.
[1:00:23] Speaker 8: I don't understand what I have to do.
[1:00:27] Speaker 9: Just stand on tiptoe, head bending forward.
[1:00:31] Speaker 2: Try it.
[1:00:32] Speaker 9: I pray, it's merely play.
[1:00:35] Speaker 2: Hansel, pulling Gretel back by her frock.
[1:00:38] Speaker 8: Sister dear, now take care, I'm such a goose. Don't understand.
[1:00:46] Speaker 8: You have to show me how to stand on tiptoe.
[1:00:50] Speaker 2: The Witch makes a movement of impatience. Do as I say.
[1:00:55] Speaker 9: It's merely play.
[1:00:57] Speaker 2: She begins screeping up to the oven motor all the time,
[1:01:01] Speaker 2: and just as she is bending over it, Hansl and
[1:01:04] Speaker 2: Gretel give her a good push, which sends her toppling
[1:01:08] Speaker 2: over into it, upon which they quickly hut the door,
[1:01:12] Speaker 2: hands Al and Gretel mocking her.
[1:01:14] Speaker 5: Then one little push bang goes to the door. Clang
[1:01:18] Speaker 5: you notttle, then will be just done to a t.
[1:01:22] Speaker 2: Hands Al and Gretel fall into one another's arms.
[1:01:25] Speaker 5: Hooray, now sing the witch is dead, really dead, no
[1:01:30] Speaker 5: more hooray. Now sing the witch is.
[1:01:33] Speaker 10: Still definitely still fill all the spell really your We
[1:01:40] Speaker 10: fear no more.
[1:01:41] Speaker 2: They seize each other's hands.
[1:01:44] Speaker 5: Yes, let us happy be dancing so merrily.
[1:01:48] Speaker 8: Now the old witch is gone.
[1:01:50] Speaker 5: We'll have no end. Hey, Hurrah rah, Hip hurrah, Hip
[1:01:55] Speaker 5: rah Hurrah.
[1:01:58] Speaker 2: They take each other round the waist and waltz together,
[1:02:02] Speaker 2: first in the front of the stage, and then gradually
[1:02:05] Speaker 2: in the direction of the witch's house. When they get there,
[1:02:08] Speaker 2: Hensel breaks loose from Gretel and rushes into the house,
[1:02:12] Speaker 2: shutting the door after him. Then, from the upper window
[1:02:16] Speaker 2: he throws down apples, pears, oranges, gilded nuts, and all
[1:02:20] Speaker 2: kinds of sweetmeats into Gretel's outstretched apron. Meanwhile, the oven
[1:02:26] Speaker 2: begins cracking loudly and the flames burn high. Then there
[1:02:30] Speaker 2: is a loud crash, and the oven falls thundering into bits.
[1:02:34] Speaker 2: Hens Al and Gretel, who in their terror let their
[1:02:37] Speaker 2: sweetmeats all fall down, hurry towards the oven, startles and
[1:02:42] Speaker 2: stand there motionless. Their astonishment increases when they become aware
[1:02:47] Speaker 2: of a troop of children around them, whose disguise of
[1:02:51] Speaker 2: cakes has fallen from them.
[1:02:54] Speaker 8: There see those little children deer. I wonder how they
[1:02:57] Speaker 8: all came here.
[1:03:00] Speaker 2: Seen four the gingerbread children, motionless and with closed eyes,
[1:03:05] Speaker 2: as the cake figures were before.
[1:03:08] Speaker 1: We're afree forever more.
[1:03:12] Speaker 8: Your eyes are shut. Pray, who are you? You're sleeping
[1:03:16] Speaker 8: and yet you're singing too?
[1:03:22] Speaker 10: Oh?
[1:03:23] Speaker 5: Touch them for me, I dare not try.
[1:03:26] Speaker 8: Yes, let me stroke this innocent face.
[1:03:30] Speaker 2: She caresses the nearest child, who opens its eyes and
[1:03:34] Speaker 2: smiles to Gretel goes and caresses all the rest of
[1:03:44] Speaker 2: the children, who open their eyes and smile without moving. Meanwhile,
[1:03:49] Speaker 2: Hansel seizes the juniper branch.
[1:03:52] Speaker 5: Spocus, elder bush, richard body loosen, Hush.
[1:03:56] Speaker 2: Some of the children jump up and hurry towards Hansel
[1:04:00] Speaker 2: and Gretel. From all sides, we think, well, thank you,
[1:04:05] Speaker 2: the spell is broken and we are free.
[1:04:08] Speaker 3: We'll sing that.
[1:04:12] Speaker 6: Come children, all.
[1:04:15] Speaker 5: Join hands together while we sing and sent spring and
[1:04:20] Speaker 5: the dance, and sing for takes and all good things
[1:04:23] Speaker 5: we bring.
[1:04:24] Speaker 3: And sing and string, and that's the.
[1:04:27] Speaker 1: Singing through the wood.
[1:04:30] Speaker 9: Praise my sound and apple repeat all around.
[1:04:34] Speaker 5: We think, we think the angels whispered and dreams to
[1:04:39] Speaker 5: us in silent night, what this happy happy day is
[1:04:42] Speaker 5: brought tonight?
[1:04:44] Speaker 2: Four gingerbread children at a time surround Hansel and Gretel
[1:04:48] Speaker 2: and bow gracefully to them.
[1:04:51] Speaker 8: The angels who have watched all steps and let them write,
[1:04:55] Speaker 8: we think for all our joy and wondrous delight.
[1:05:00] Speaker 2: The gingerbread children, who all press around Hansel and Gretel
[1:05:04] Speaker 2: to shake hands with them, Thank you Father. Behind the scene,
[1:05:11] Speaker 2: Trallah troll Ala, Where are children only here?
[1:05:18] Speaker 3: Travel la troll la.
[1:05:22] Speaker 2: The father appears in the background with the mother and
[1:05:25] Speaker 2: stops when he sees the children.
[1:05:28] Speaker 3: Oh whily really.
[1:05:34] Speaker 2: Last scene, Hansel running towards them, Gretel the same.
[1:05:40] Speaker 12: Father, mother, father, mother, children, dear, Oh, welcome, poor children, innocent.
[1:05:52] Speaker 2: Joyfully embracing. Meanwhile, two of the boys have dragged the witch,
[1:05:57] Speaker 2: in the form of a big gingerbread cake, out of
[1:06:01] Speaker 2: the ruins of the magic oven. At the sight of her,
[1:06:04] Speaker 2: they all burst into a shout of joy. The boys
[1:06:08] Speaker 2: placed the witch in the middle of the stage.
[1:06:11] Speaker 3: Children see the wonder wrote how the witch herself was
[1:06:17] Speaker 3: caught unaware in the snare laid for you with cunning rare,
[1:06:30] Speaker 3: Unaware in the.
[1:06:33] Speaker 1: Cunning rare.
[1:06:35] Speaker 2: The two boys dragged the witch in the cottage.
[1:06:38] Speaker 3: Such is heaven chastise meant evil works will have an end.
[1:06:45] Speaker 3: When past bearing is our grief, then tis Heaven will
[1:06:50] Speaker 3: send us sure relief. When past bearing is our grief grief,
[1:06:58] Speaker 3: then tis heaven and will send relief.
[1:07:04] Speaker 8: Relief.
[1:07:06] Speaker 2: End of Act three and of Hansel and Gretel, a
[1:07:10] Speaker 2: fairy opera in three acts by adel Heide Vetter and
[1:07:15] Speaker 2: Engelbert homper Dink,

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