MET Hansel and Gretel

Here's the link to an Opera News interview of the newest MET Hansel, Alice Coote:

http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/issue/article.aspx?id=3284&issueID=155

Ms. Coote talks about young people not wanting a "sugary sweet story." This makes us think about what our H&G should be. How far can you push what was and is meant as a story for children? We are just getting started and our audience will be mostly people who have never seen an opera. Now wouldn't be the time to alienate our audience. They all know the story of Hansel and Gretel, so straying too far from what they know would be risky.

There are so many questions to ponder. Is the story "just a fairy tale"? How is it relevant to children today? Is it Pantomime scary or really scary?

There is also an interview with Philip Langridge who will be singing the part of the witch. (The role may be sung by a man or a woman.) We were surprised to see this quote:

"People say they don't like opera, and you say, what have you seen? And it turns out they've never seen it. They've just heard that it's the Big Bad Wolf."

This is something we have also noted in a previous posting. We hope to reach our young (both in age and in opera experience) audience and get them excited about opera. Heady stuff!

Here's the link for the rest of the interview:
http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/issue/article.aspx?id=3281&issueID=155

We are looking forward to the MET simulcast next week and are sure it will give us lots to think about in the coming months.