Hänsel und Gretel
A fairy tale of a brother and sister falling into the hands of a witch in a magical production featuring clowns, acrobats and puppets.
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- December
- January 2025
- March 2025
Tuesday 10. 12.
11:00
Tickets availableTuesday 10. 12.
17:00
Tickets availableThursday 12. 12.
17:00
Tickets availableSunday 15. 12.
14:00
Tickets availableSunday 15. 12.
18:00
Tickets availableSaturday 21. 12.
11:00
Tickets availableSaturday 21. 12.
17:00
Tickets availableSunday 5. 1.
17:00
Tickets availableSunday 12. 1.
14:00
Tickets availableSunday 9. 3.
17:00
Tickets availableSunday 23. 3.
17:00
Tickets availableBasic information
The State Opera
Approximate running time2 hours 15 minutes, 1 intermission (20 minutes) minutes
LanguageIn Czech, surtitles in Czech, English
PremiereApril 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
- 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.
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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 December 2024 – May 2025.
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 60 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)