Hansel and Gretel

Colin Davis conducts a wonderfully rich performance of Engelbert Humperdinck's captivating 1893 fairy-tale opera in this 2008 production from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The two children are sung (and acted) deliciously, if you'll pardon the expression, by Angelika Kirchschlager and Diana Damrau, who are supported by a trio of wily veterans—Thomas Allen and Elizabeth Connell as their parents and Anja Silja (not entirely beautiful of voice but splendidly malevolent in manner) as the witch. Happily, the visual attributes are as strong as the vocal ones: stage directors Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier have fashioned an enchanting forest that is traditional but imaginative, and a witch's kitchen interior—with captive children (dolls, of course) hanging in her pantry—which is actually a bit scary. But the hero of the production is Davis, whose respect for the score, expressed in a brief interview that is one of the bonus features (along with a behind-the-scenes featurette with Leiser and Caurier), is evident in his affectionate treatment of every bar. Some might prefer a bit more sparkle rather than Davis' measured tempi, but the music never drags in this splendid mounting. Presented in DTS 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD and PCM 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)