The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Hansel & Gretel At Hubbard Hall

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a review by Alex Brooks
Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre has opened a production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s (the 19th century composer, not the 1960s pop singer who borrowed his name) masterpiece Hansel and Gretel, complete with a full orchestra of 20+ pieces, conducted by Michael Ricciardone.
Humperdinck came out of the Wagnerian tradition but was also greatly influenced by traditional German folk music, and this opera proved to be an excellent vehicle for a synthesis of the two. The lyrics and libretto are by his sister Adelheid Wette. The project began as a simple entertainment for members of their family, which grew into a full-scale opera over the course of the following year, premiering in 1892 with an orchestra conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.
The plucky little Hubbard Hall Opera Theater has done a fine job with it. Alix Jones, Producer of this show and founder of the Hubbard Hall Opera Theater, sings Gretel, and Kara Cornell, star of last year’s Carmen, is back to sing the role of Hansel. Both are accomplished singers, and they have a lot of fun with these roles. They are joined by wonderful performances from Julian Whitley as the father and Victoria Tralongo as the witch, whose sinister magic powers are no match for the innocent spirits of Hansel and Gretel.
Another major character in the play is the forest itself and the sprites within it, who are played by members of the Hubbard Hall Conservatory. The forest scenes are in a long tradition of “magic forest” stories in which the forest is both terrifying and comforting, and this tension becomes the dominant theme of the Opera. Many of the fairy tales of the German folk tradition collected by the Brothers Grimm, of which “Hansel and Gretel” is one, are somehow terrifying and comforting to children at the same time, and this production captures that feeling, which is resolved in the final thrilling crescendo affirming that God takes care of his children.
Remaining performances are Thursday and Friday August 19 and 20 at 8 pm, and Sunday August 22 at 2 pm. Call the Hubbard Hall Box office at 677-2495 for tickets.