Product Details

• Actors: Edita Gruberova, Brigitte Fassbaender, Hermann Prey, Helga Dernesch, Sena Jurinac
• Directors: Georg Solti, August Everding
• Format: Classical, Color, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: German (DTS 5.1), German (PCM Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
• DVD Release Date: January 10, 2006
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000AXSKB8
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,302 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lyrical fairy tale beautifully filmed, January 13, 2006

By	Mike Birman (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I reviewed a new DVD of Verdi's Falstaff conducted by Sir Georg Solti on DGG some weeks ago. I thought it superb. Here is another Solti led release: Englebert Humperdinck's charming fairy tale opera based on Hansel und Gretel. It was filmed for Unitel and has been available on video before. It, too, is an excellent effort in all respects. I've occasionally been less than enthusiastic about Solti's conducting; his Ring cycle is not my favorite but I'm in the minority on that. These two recent releases may make me rethink my opinion of Solti's operatic vision. I guess you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

Filmed in Vienna under the direction of August Everding in January and February 1981, the soundtrack was recorded in September the previous year. This is similar to Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's technique; his belief that lip synching enables singers to focus on their acting rather than worrying about where their next note is coming from. This works for me but purists do not like it. Be forewarned that this is not a typically staged Opera!

Brigitte Fassbaender sings Hansel and she is wonderful in the part. Her light mezzo makes her a perfect Hansel. What I found a little disconcerting was her uncommon beauty which, although disguised by costume and make-up, made me struggle to see her as a young boy. Edita Gruberova sings Gretel and she too is marvelous. In the mid-1980's she moved into the Italian bel canto repertoire for which she has been better known. The pair in tandem carry the weight of this lyrical Opera without difficulty. Perfect casting. The late Hermann Prey is the Father. He was a comedic singer/actor of the first magnitude (my personal favorite Figaro for both Mozart and Rossini), but he tones his comic gifts down for this role. He looks suitably haggard in the film but his singing is as lively as ever. Helga Dernesch is the mother and she too is fine. Most interesting is the much-loved soprano Sena Jurinac in the role of the Witch, two years before her retirement. Her older voice is perfect for the role. Her farewell to the stage was as the Marschallin.

The Vienna Philharmonic is superb, as always. In years of listening, I cannot recall a bad performance by this remarkable ensemble. The film uses special effects such as stop motion photography and animation for the more imaginative scenes. They are effective but limited. Do not compare them to today's Computer Graphics intensive films. A lyrical fairy tale ambiance suffuses this film and it is quite magical if you do not expect more than 1981 can deliver. I enjoyed it and was often quite moved (the appearance of the Angels, in particular, I found exceptionally lovely and poetic).

The film runs 107 minutes. It is in color, shot full screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Sound formats are PCM stereo and DTS 5.1. On higher-end A/V systems there is a significant difference between the two, with DTS providing greater presence, a larger illusion of space in the soundfield and a sense of "liveness" I have found in none of the other formats (including Dolby 5.1). Lower-end systems may not reveal much difference. There are the usual subtitles and no extras other than excerpts from current DGG releases. This is an excellent DVD which I recommend highly. You will probably treasure it as I do as long as you take my several provisos into consideration.

Mike Birman

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful music, costuming, and singing , May 13, 2006

By	Mr John Haueisen (WORTHINGTON, OHIO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Of the handful of available Hansel and Gretels, this is the best sung, and has the most period-authentic costuming.

Brigitte Fassbaender and Edita Gruberova, as Hansel and Gretel, simply can't be beaten, both for the perfection of their singing, AND their acting--they are so truly childlike (not childish!).

Yes, it gets better. Hermann Prey and Helga Dernesch add personality and a touch of comedy to make the Father and Mother roles much more than they usually are.

All we need now to make it a definitive H & G would be a good "Knusper-Witch," which we have in Sena Jurinac--scary, but believable and essential.

If you already enjoy Hansel and Gretel, you will still be surprised both by how believable as young children Fassbaender and Gruberova are. And--you get their splendid singing abilities.

This performance was recorded in 1981, but is certainly not at all out of date. It has subtitles available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese, but you really don't need the subtitles to follow the story or to enjoy the show.

This would be an ideal performance to introduce opera to children, or perhaps to friends who think they could never enjoy opera.

You'll find more amazing details each time you watch it!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting, December 13, 2006

By	Howard C. Batt (Clearwater, Florida USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Before watching this, put aside your critical eye and relax so you can be carried along with the magic. It is, as the other reviewers have said, beautifully done. But you watch this opera to be enchanted - let it happen. It starts with the overture - the camera takes you to the beautiful opera house, past the poster announcing the opera and sweeps you along with the children who are flooding into the hall. Then Georg Solti is seen closeup conducting the orchestra and then the scene shifts to the beginning of the opera. Throughout there are occasional cuts to the children's faces so you can see they are as transfixed as you - if you will just relax and let it happen as a child does. Scene changes are done magically without pause in the music. You will be moved emotionally when the fourteen angels appear as Hansel and Gretel sleep in the forest. The forest is just scary enough to send shivers through small bodies but not so frightening they will not want to watch. The witch is bad but not the kind of bad that makes for nightmares in children. Unless, of course, the watching child is sweet and plump enough to make good gingerbread. The language is a problem at first because it is so NOT like children would talk - ever. But - remember it's opera, remember it's translated from German, remember it's supposed to be a little high falutin' and remember - most important - remember you are watching this opera because you decided to be enchanted. Just let it carry you and you'll be happy. It'a beautifully staged, beautifully costumed, beautifully sung, beautifully played and utterly enchanting. "mousy, mousy, who's nibbling on my housy?" says the gingerbread making witch as Hansel tears off parts of the roof. It's for kids. All of us kids.