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State Opera I Hänsel und Gretel: Michaela Zajmi (Hänsel), Jana Sibera (Gretel), National Theatre  Opera Ballet – photo: Zdeněk SokolState Opera I Hänsel und Gretel: Michaela Zajmi (Hänsel), Jana Sibera (Gretel), National Theatre  Opera Ballet – photo: Zdeněk Sokol
Opera

Hänsel und Gretel

Engelbert Humperdinck

A fairy tale of a brother and sister falling into the hands of a witch in a magical production featuring clowns, acrobats and puppets.

The State Opera
For the whole family
English surtitles
For children

Choose date

  • December
  • March 2025
    December 2024

    Sunday 15. 12.
    11:00

    Currently subscription sale only More about subscription

    For the whole family
    English surtitles
    For children
    March 2025

    Sunday 9. 3.
    17:00

    Currently subscription sale only More about subscription

    For the whole family
    English surtitles
    For children

    Basic information

    Venue

    The State Opera

    Approximate running time

    2 hours 15 minutes, 1 intermission (20 minutes) minutes

    Language

    In Czech, surtitles in Czech, English

    Premiere

    April 23, 2015

    Matěj Forman’s poetic adaptation of the feted opera by the German composer Engelbert Humperdinck, based on the Grimm brothers’ popular fairy tale.

    Cast

    • 2023-2024
    • 2024-2025

    Creatives

    About

    State Opera Orchestra
    Prague Philharmonic Children's Choir

    Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel is one of the most frequently performed operas in Germany. Inspired by the Grimm brothers’ popular fairy tale, the libretto was written by the composer’s sister Adelheid Wette, who modified the rather macabre story, adding the characters of the Sandman and the Dew Fairy, as well as the instrumental dream pantomime scene in the forest, and concluding it with the resurrection of the witch’s victims and the happy reunion between the children and their parents. With the music written in the grand Wagnerian romantic style, Humperdinck’s opera also contains folk rhythms, songs for children and old melodies. The world premiere, in Weimar on 23 December 1893, was conducted by Richard Strauss, totally enraptured by the piece. Enraptured too was the audience, and Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel has ever since remained extremely popular in Germany, where every December it has been performed at more than 35 opera houses. In 1905, the piece was first shown at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where it has often been staged during Christmas.

    Our current adaptation of Hänsel und Gretel is directed by Matěj Forman, primarily known to Prague audiences as the designer of the magical scenery for the highly acclaimed productions La Belle et la Bête, A Walk Worthwhile and Enchantia, which he has created in recent years for the National Theatre Opera together with his brother Petr. Matěj Forman and his team’s conception of the musical fairy tale was inspired by the world of itinerant theatre.

    Photographer for production: Hana Smejkalová

    Suitable for audience from 5 years.

    Photo and video gallery

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    Goods detail

    Hänsel und Gretel Programme

    A booklet for the production of Hänsel und Gretel

    90 Kč

    5 items in stock

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    Practical information

    Where to buy tickets

    The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in March-August 2024.


    When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.

    What to wear?

    By their appearance, attire and behaviour, the audience is obliged to adhere to the accustomed practice expected from them when attending a theatre performance.

    Parking at the State opera

    While visiting the State Opera, you can take the slip road on Wilsonova street from the left lane close to the State Opera building to the Parking Centrum above-ground garage. The parking fee is 40 CZK/h.

    Buffets at the State Opera

    No waiting. For your benefit, please pre-order your food and beverages at the bar to minimize waiting in the queue!

    Menu (PDF, 60 kB)