Pacific Symphony Presents Shortened Version of HANSEL AND GRETEL, 3/3

The captivating fairy tale opera, "Hansel and Gretel," comes to life in full orchestral and vocal color for Pacific Symphony's Family Musical Mornings' unique production of Humperdinck's beloved opera, created just for kids. Kicking off the Symphony's new opera-vocal initiative-which includes a production of Puccini's "La Bohème" this April and "Tosca" in February 2013-this 45-minute performance includes original narration and dialogue to introduce children to the beautiful and powerful instrument, the voice. Led by Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy, the orchestra and singers tell the familiar Brothers Grimm story of two siblings who venture into a magical forest to find a gingerbread house made of candy. But, beware! A wicked witch wants to turn them into a snack! Staged with costumes, props and scenery projected on the big screen. Presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank and underwritten by the Honorable H. Warren and Janet Siegel, "Hansel and Gretel" takes place Saturday, March 3, at 10 and 11:30 a.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. 

Tickets are $19-36 and include a Musical Carnival before or after the show (more below). For more information or to purchase tickets call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org. 

"The music of 'Hansel and Gretel' is luscious, but merry in style," says Maestro Eshkenazy. "It's romantic music that accompanies a very special fairytale. To add character to the children on stage, the opera includes folk tunes, children-like songs, but it remains masterfully orchestrated. Overall the whole opera is beautiful, but what grabs my attention is the overture, which starts with just the horns but then goes into a rich string sound that I just love."

Directed by Dylan Thomas, founder and artistic director of Center Stage Opera in Canoga Park, this staged concert features soprano Shira Renee Thomas as Gretel (last seen as Pamina in the Symphony's "Magic Flute" in 2008), mezzo-soprano Danielle Marcelle Bond, currently singing with Opera Santa Barbara, as Hansel, baritone Andreas Kraemer as the narrator and father, and tenor Zoran Duke Rausavljevich as the witch. Chapman University vocal performance major Brittany Danielle Bethurum (mezzo-soprano) performs Sandman and is the understudy for Hansel. Also from Chapman, soprano Chelsea Chaves and mezzo-soprano Clara Chung provide offstage voices and understudy for Gretel and Sandman, respectively. 

The Symphony is collaborating with Chapman University to further its educational mission and to allow the young audience at Family concerts to see performers closer to their own age. Additional projects with Chapman include performances in the lobby before upcoming classical concerts and participating in opera outings hosted by the Symphony.

"With our new opera-vocal initiative including a semi-staged production of 'La Bohème' on our classical series, it's important to us to present the same art form to children and their parents as well," Eshkenazy continues. "It's very gratifying to work with voice, and the Chapman students are gaining a lot of experience from our collaboration. I'm having a great time. 

Differing from most opera productions, the Symphony brings the orchestra out of the pit and onto the stage to deliver the lush, Wagnerian compositions of Humperdinck.  

Serving as a second narrator, the orchestra illuminates the thrilling overture, the dark and terrifying woods and the anticipation of the Witch's Ride, as well as delights with German folk melodies, such as the Evening Prayer. Humperdinck's opera was written in Germany in 1891-92 and first conducted by Richard Strauss a few days before Christmas. Today it has become a Christmas tradition in German speaking countries.

"Opera is a unique art form in that it blends music, theater, storytelling, visual art and often dance, all into one seamless performance," says Susan Miller, Symphony director of education and community engagement. "As such, opera has a number of accessible entry points for children and adults alike. Children who are used to today's singers, with electronically modified voices, are often astounded when they hear opera singers, especially with a full orchestra. Opera singers are trained to sing both beautifully and powerfully, relying on a technique based on rock-solid abdominal support and hundreds of tiny physical adjustments of the face, mouth and throat to produce a sound that can carry over a large orchestra."

In addition to the concert, children and families are invited to attend the Musical Carnival beginning at 9 a.m. (for the 10 a.m. concert) and 12:15 p.m. (for the 11:30 a.m. concert). The carnival features Chapman singers, a Spotlight on Voice, Ask the Orchestra, Instrument Test Drive, Meet the Musicians, Meet the Young Musicians (from Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles) and a trumpet duo to greet everyone with fanfare.

"I remember reading The Brothers Grimm story as a boy, and I was very afraid of the witch!" says Eshkenazy. "She could chop me into little pieces and throw me in a cooking pot! But this opera is specially designed for children with all of the best parts and is going to be great fun."

Family Musical Mornings concludes on May 12, for the season's final concert, "Happily Ever After?" featuring selections from Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty." Children are welcome to come dressed as their favorite fairy tale characters.

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