This February, Scottish Opera’s production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel features the first new translation of the opera in the UK for 25 years.
In this new translation, director Bill Bankes-Jones (Artistic Director of Tête à Tête and it’s contemporary opera festival), takes the opera back to its roots, with dialogue true to the original libretto and a focus on rich characterisation.
French conductor Emmanuel Joël-Hornak, who was last with the Company for Verdi’s La traviata in 2008, returns to conduct Humperdinck’s lush, folk-inspired score.
Former Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist Kai Rüütel sings Hansel, with Irish soprano Ailish Tynan as Gretel (fresh from the same role at Covent Garden), Leah-Marian Jones as the Witch, Paul Carey Jones as Peter and The John Mather Charitable Trust Scottish Opera Emerging Artist and Radio 2 Dame Kiri Prize Winner Shuna Scott Sendall singing Gertrude.
Featuring a children’s chorus of 22, a host of 14 angels and an orchestra of 65, the traditional staging of this new production makes for a lustrous, enchanting tale true to the Grimm’s original fairytale.
Running time approx. 2 hours.
Opening Night: Saturday 4 February, 7.15pm, Theatre Royal Glasgow.
-ENDS-
For additional press details please contact:
Kerryn Kirkpatrick, Press Manager, 0141 242 0511, kerryn.kirkpatrick@scottishopera.org.uk
Emma York, Press Officer, 0141 242 0552, emma.york@scottishopera.org.uk
Cast Production Team
Hansel Kai Rüütel Conductor Emmanuel Joël-Hornak
Gretel Ailish Tynan Director Bill Bankes-Jones
Peter Paul Carey Jones Designer Tim Meacock
Gertrude Shuna Scott Sendall** Lighting Mark Doubleday
The Witch Leah-Marian Jones Movement Director Kally Lloyd-Jones
Sandman Miranda Sinani
Dew Fairy Marie Claire Breen*
* Scottish Opera Emerging Artist
** The John Mather Charitable Trust Scottish Opera Emerging Artist
Performance Dates
Theatre Royal Glasgow
Sat 4 Feb, Wed 8 Feb, Fri 10 Feb, 7.15pm
Sun 12 Feb 4pm*+
Hansel and Gretel Unwrapped
Tue 7 Feb 6pm
Festival Theatre Edinburgh
Tue 14 Feb, Thu 16 Feb, Sat 18 Feb*+, 7.15pm
Hansel and Gretel Unwrapped
Wed 15 Feb 6pm
*Pre-show talk
+Audio-described performance/Touch tour
Contact: Emma York
Phone: 0141 242 0552
Email: emma.york@scottishopera.org.uk
Website: http://www.scottishopera.org.uk
