{"product_id":"karajan-humperdinck-hansel-und-gretel-1953-paco162","title":"KARAJAN Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel (1953) - PACO162","description":"overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eHUMPERDINCK \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eHänsel und Gretel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eMOZART, R. STRAUSS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003e Arias\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eStudio recordings, 1953 \u0026amp; 1955\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eTotal duration: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003e2hr 20:24\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eHänsel \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e- Elisabeth Grümmer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eGretel \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e- Elisabeth Schwarzkopf\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eMother \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e- Maria Von Ilosvay\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eFather \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e- Josef Metternich\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eWitch \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e- Else Schürhoff\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003ePhilharmonia Orchestra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eChoirs of Loughton High School For Girls \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eand \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eBancroft’s School\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eConducted by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eHerbert Von Karajan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eElisabeth Grümmer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003esoprano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eErna Berger, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003esoprano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eErika Köth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e, soprano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003econducted by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eWilhelm Schüchter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples\/PACO162.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer's Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHansel and Gretel\u003c\/em\u003e\nis often seen as the most child-friendly opera in the standard repertoire.\nAs a musical fairy-tale it has all the right ingredients to delight a young\naudience: youthful protagonists who get into trouble with their mother\n(something all children can surely identify with!); a wicked witch who\nprovides a suitable level of peril; and a happy ending with the family\nreunited and all the other children restored to life. Many opera houses in\nEurope and the USA deliberately schedule performances around Christmas\ntime, and in fact this opera was chosen for the debut Saturday matinee\nbroadcast from the Metropolitan Opera in New York on Christmas Day 1931.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nIn the summer of 1953 Walter Legge assembled an all-star cast for the very\nfirst studio recording of \u003cem\u003eHansel and Gretel\u003c\/em\u003e. Herbert von Karajan\nwas chosen to conduct, continuing the relationship that Legge had forged\nwith him during the recordings of \u003cem\u003eLe Nozze di Figaro\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDie Zauberflöte\u003c\/em\u003e in 1950. Legge used the orchestra he had himself\nfounded after the war. The Philharmonia lacked a permanent conductor but\nsuccessfully enticed guest conductors such as Furtwängler and Toscanini to\nperform with them in London. Karajan conducted the orchestra regularly in\nthe early 1950s and this recording clearly reflects the comfortable\nfamiliarity between them. Early reviews of the recording singled out the\n‘immense care’ Karajan took with the score and the ‘highest possible\nstandard’ of orchestral playing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe siblings, Hansel and Gretel, are sung by Elisabeth Grümmer and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. As a well-established operatic superstar Schwarzkopf has\ntended to headline all the issues of this opera, but to my mind the\noutstanding performance really comes from Grümmer. Grümmer’s career was\nbuilt around singing Mozart and lighter Wagnerian roles in the major opera\nhouses of Germany and Austria. While Schwarzkopf gives us all the clarity,\nprecision and insight anyone could want, Grümmer gives us youthful\ninnocence as well as a very credible boyish boldness in her singing. It’s a\nperformance as Hansel that surely has never been bettered on record.\nAlthough fans of Grümmer’s art can listen to a number of her live\nrecordings that have been released on CD, she made only a handful of studio\nrecordings of complete operas and this one is surely the most memorable.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nAn excellent all-round cast provide fine support to Schwarzkopf and\nGrümmer. Maria von Ilosvay (Bayreuth’s resident Erda and Waltraute during\nthe 1950s) captures a mother’s weariness to perfection and Josef Metternich\nis equally excellent as the father. Legge needed just five recording days\nto complete this recording in June and July 1953 and perhaps this helps it\nsustain a certain freshness. No section was over-rehearsed or\nover-recorded, indeed the prelude was famously recorded in just one take.\nThe final result was instantly recognised as something very special with\nOpera Magazine describing it as ‘highly rewarding operatic treat’ that\nwould ‘give constant delight for many years to come.’ Even when set against\nmodern stereo versions this 1953 EMI classic remains the best studio\nrecording of this charming opera.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElisabeth Grümmer was a renowned Mozartian so we are fortunate that she made studio recordings of operatic arias during three separate recording sessions in July, October and December 1955, demonstrating her mastery of Mozartian line and style. Also recorded at this session was an extract from \u003ci\u003eDer Rosenkavalier \u003c\/i\u003ewith Grümmer singing the role of Octavian. She would later move on to singing the Marschallin. In all these recordings Grümmer is accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Wilhelm Schüchter. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFull Track Listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5ftrack_listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 24px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHUMPERDINCK \u003c\/b\u003eHänsel und Gretel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISC ONE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Overture  (8:36)\u003cbr\u003e2. \u003cb\u003eAct I\u003c\/b\u003e - Suse, liebe Suse  (3:43)\u003cbr\u003e3. So recht!  (1:59)\u003cbr\u003e4. Brüderchen, komm, tanz mit mir  (3:38)\u003cbr\u003e5. Holla! Himmel! Die Mutter!  (1:40)\u003cbr\u003e6. Marsch! Fort in den Wald!  (2:30)\u003cbr\u003e7. Ral la la la, ral la la la  (5:30)\u003cbr\u003e8. Drüben hinter'm Herrenwald  (1:32)\u003cbr\u003e9. Doch halt, wo bleiben die Kinder?  (1:38)\u003cbr\u003e10. Wenn sie sich verirrten  (1:25)\u003cbr\u003e11. Eine Hex', steinalt  (2:42)\u003cbr\u003e12. Hexenritt  (4:23)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e13. \u003cb\u003eAct II\u003c\/b\u003e - Ein Männlein steht im Walde  (1:29)\u003cbr\u003e14. Juchhe! Mein Erbelkörbchen ist voll  (1:25)\u003cbr\u003e15. Kuckuck, Kuckuck, Eierschluck!  (3:24)\u003cbr\u003e16. Gretel, ich weiß den Weg nicht me...  (4:44)\u003cbr\u003e17. Der kleine Sandmann bin ich  (3:14)\u003cbr\u003e18. Abends, will ich schlafen gehn  (3:00)\u003cbr\u003e19. Pantomime  (6:34)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDISC TWO\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. \u003cb\u003eAct III \u003c\/b\u003e- Vorspiel  (2:23)\u003cbr\u003e2. Der kleine Taumann heiß' ich  (2:01)\u003cbr\u003e3. Wo bin ich? Wach' ich?  (5:48)\u003cbr\u003e4. Bleib stehn! Bleib stehn!  (0:42)\u003cbr\u003e5. Wie duftet's von dorten  (1:56)\u003cbr\u003e6. Alles bleibt still  (1:52)\u003cbr\u003e7. Knusper, knusper Knäuschen  (3:31)\u003cbr\u003e8. Ich bin Rosine Leckermaul  (4:17)\u003cbr\u003e9. Halt! Hokuspokus, Hexenschuß!  (1:24)\u003cbr\u003e10. Nun, Gretel, sei vernünftig und ...  (5:15)\u003cbr\u003e11. Hurr hopp hopp hopp  (1:44)\u003cbr\u003e12. Auf! Wach auf, mein Jüngelchen  (4:12)\u003cbr\u003e13. Juchei! Nun ist die Hexe Tod  (2:43)\u003cbr\u003e14. Erlöst, befreit, für alle Zeit!  (4:09)\u003cbr\u003e15. Ei, da sind sie ja! Vater! Mutter!  (2:22)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCAST\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHänsel - \u003cb\u003eElisabeth Grümmer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGretel - \u003cb\u003eElisabeth Schwarzkopf\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGertud, Mother - \u003cb\u003eMaria Von Ilosvay\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePeter, a broom-maker, Father - \u003cb\u003eJosef Metternich\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ethe Witch - \u003cb\u003eElse Schürhoff\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Sandman \u0026amp; The Dew-Fairy - \u003cb\u003eAnny Felbermayer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Philharmonia Orchestra\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eChoirs of Loughton High School For Girls, Essex \u0026amp; Bancroft’s School\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eConducted by \u003cb\u003eHerbert Von Karajan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBONUS TRACKS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eELISABETH GRÜMMER\u003c\/b\u003e  1955 Aria Recordings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e16. \u003cb\u003eMOZART \u003c\/b\u003eLe Nozze Di Figaro - Act 2 - \u003ci\u003ePorgi amor\u003c\/i\u003e  (4:15)\u003cbr\u003e17. \u003cb\u003eMOZART \u003c\/b\u003eLe Nozze Di Figaro - Act 3 - *\u003ci\u003eChe soave     zefiretto\u003c\/i\u003e  (2:48)\u003cbr\u003e18. \u003cb\u003eMOZART \u003c\/b\u003eLe Nozze Di Figaro - Act 3 -\u003ci\u003e Dove sono i bei    momenti\u003c\/i\u003e  (6:44)\u003cbr\u003e19. \u003cb\u003eMOZART \u003c\/b\u003eCosì Fan Tutte - Act 1 - \u003ci\u003eTemerari - Come scoglio\u003c\/i\u003e  (6:04)\u003cbr\u003e20. \u003cb\u003eMOZART \u003c\/b\u003eDie Zauberflöte - Act 2 - \u003ci\u003eBald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden\u003c\/i\u003e  (6:15)\u003cbr\u003e21. \u003cb\u003eR. STRAUSS \u003c\/b\u003eDer Rosenkavalier - Act 3 - **\u003ci\u003eIst ein Traum, kann nicht wirklich sein\u003c\/i\u003e  (6:54)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eElisabeth Grümmer\u003c\/b\u003e, soprano\u003cbr\u003ewith \u003cb\u003e*Erna Berger\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003e**Erika Köth\u003c\/b\u003e, sopranos\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003econducted by \u003cb\u003eWilhelm Schüchter\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eXR remastering by Andrew Rose\u003cbr\u003eCover artwork based on a photograph of Elisabeth Grümmer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHänsel \u0026amp; Gretel\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRec. 27, 29, 30 June and 1, 2 July 1953 \u003cbr\u003eKingsway Hall, London\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMozart Arias\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRec. 7\/10, 7\/10, 21\/7, 21\/12, 7\/10 1955\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eStrauss Aria\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRec. October 1955\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTotal duration:  2hr 20:24   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fCover Art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcover_art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/thumbs\/PACO162.jpg578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/PACO162.pdf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fHistoric Review, 1954578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003e\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eWe have come near to\nperfection before, but never so close as in this recording\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI always thought it could be done if someone really set their mind to it,\nand insisted on it: and now it \u003cem\u003ehas\u003c\/em\u003e been done. We have come near to\nperfection before, but never so close as in this recording of Humperdinck's\nexquisite fairy-tale opera. It is still a recording, which means there are\nbound to be some imperfections, small as they are here, but the scene in\nthe forest (Act 2) is sung and played and recorded with a sensitive regard\nfor the atmosphere the music can create, if allowed to, that has, until\nnow, not been equalled.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe stage direction tells us that on the rise of the curtain to this scene\nGretel “is humming quietly to herself” the folk song “There stands a little\nman in the wood alone\". Elisabeth Schwarzkopf produces the illusion\nperfectly, and the orchestra respond in like manner, all, as the recording\ngives it to us, on the plane of absolute quietness. The cuckoo calls, and\nsoft, mysterious voices echo the lost children's cry “Who's there?”—we are\nwith them in the dark forest—and it is, as directed, with a “soft, gentle\nvoice” the Sandman brings sleep to the children, another perfectly achieved\nillusion of a fairy-tale personage, faintly seen in the dusk. Then, very\nquietly, the two children sing their ineffably lovely prayer about the\nangels and once more we are with them, as even in the opera house looking\nat the stage we could not be.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe tender intimacy of performance and recording are something to marvel\nat—one never thinks of the studio and the opera could not have been better\ncast. The two Elisabeths sound always like the delightful children they are\nsupposed to be and avoid all suspicion of archness: and both sing\nbeautifully throughout. Josef Metternich and Marie von Ilosvay are equally\ngood as the parents and Else Schuroff produces an amazing variety of\nsinister sounds as the witch. Her \"hocus-pocus\" is really frightening. Anny\nFelbermeyer's pretty voice is brought forward as the Dew Fairy (quite\ncorrectly) and this differentiates her sufficiently from the Sandman. The\nfresh and enthusiastic singing of the school choirs is pure delight: and\nwhen principals and chorus sang the last words in the opera, to\nHumperdinck's inspired melody, “When past bearing is our grief, God the\nLord will send relief”, I was moved to tears. Karajan has been accused of\nover-speeding in his Mozart operatic recordings—and with some justice—but\nhe never puts a baton wrong, so to speak, in this opera. I like the slow\nunfolding of the “prayer” melody at the start of the Overture, and there is\nnot a moment when he over-plays the brilliantly scored sections. The themes\nare, as everyone knows, woven together with a \u003cem\u003eMeistersinger\u003c\/em\u003e-like\nrichness, but the counterpoint is always made beautifully clear. The\nWitches Ride (she is perhaps a sort of fallen Valkyrie!) is vividly\ndone—the big drum comes out with startling reality—and the gradual\ntransition to the quietness of the forest scene managed with much skill.\nKarajan is, in fact, in affectionate accord with the score throughout.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe recording of the orchestra—who play like the angels of the dream\ntableau—-is really superb and the high string tone comes out with a beauty\ntape recording has long denied it.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nIs it too much to hope that Columbia may print the libretto in German and\nEnglish so that listeners may get the fullest enjoyment from the opera. All\nthe singers act admirably with their voices, but this extra help is needed\nas well.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\nWhen I was a talks producer at the B.B.C. and wanted conditions to be as\nfavourable to the broadcaster as possible I used to say, half jokingly,\n“There must be love in the studio” to all concerned: and I feel this spirit\nwas about in the studio when \u003cem\u003eHänsel und Gretel\u003c\/em\u003e was being recorded.\nIt sounds, anyway, as if it was sung, played, recorded, and—not\nleast—directed with love. For that and this beautiful result our most\ngrateful thanks.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA.R.\u003cbr\u003eThe Gramophone, January 1954\n\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f","brand":"Pristine Classical","offers":[{"title":"Ambient Stereo 24-bit FLAC","offer_id":55010078392686,"sku":"uqv1789306342846","price":23.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ambient Stereo 16-bit FLAC","offer_id":55010078425454,"sku":"wsg1789306342847","price":19.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"320kbps Ambient Stereo MP3","offer_id":55010078458222,"sku":"log1789306342848","price":12.53,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0915\/3986\/5966\/files\/karajan-humperdinck-hansel-und-gretel-1953---paco162_1.jpg?v=1789306350","url":"https:\/\/www.harborviewgoods.shop\/products\/karajan-humperdinck-hansel-und-gretel-1953-paco162","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}