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State Opera I Hänsel und Gretel: Michaela Zajmi (Hänsel), Jana Sibera (Gretel), National Theatre  Opera Ballet – photo: Zdeněk SokolState Opera I Hänsel und Gretel: Michaela Zajmi (Hänsel), Jana Sibera (Gretel), National Theatre  Opera Ballet – photo: Zdeněk Sokol
Opera

Hänsel und Gretel

Engelbert Humperdinck

A fairy tale of a brother and sister falling into the hands of a witch in a magical production featuring clowns, acrobats and puppets.

The State Opera
For the whole family
English surtitles
For children

Basic information

Venue

The State Opera

Approximate running time

2 hours 15 minutes, 1 intermission (20 minutes) minutes

Language

In Czech, surtitles in Czech, English

Premiere

April 23, 2015

Suitable for audience from 5 years.

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
  • 2025-2026

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.

Suitable for audience from 5 years.

Synopsis

Photo and video gallery

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Goods detail

Hänsel und Gretel Programme

A booklet for the production of Hänsel und Gretel

90 Kč

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Practical information

Where to buy tickets

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.

The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance - currently for March–August 2025.
Sales always start on the 1st day of the month at 9am, except in January when pre-sales do not start until the 2nd day due to a public holiday.

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)