The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm brothers' fairy tale of the same name.

It is much admired for its folk music-inspired themes, one of the most famous being the "Abendsegen" ("Evening Benediction") from act 2.

The idea for the opera was proposed to Humperdinck by his sister, who approached him about writing music for songs that she had written for her children for Christmas based on "Hansel and Gretel".

Since 2007, the Met has performed the work in a production originally created for the Welsh National Opera using Pountney's translation.

[8] Scene 1: At home Gretel stitches a stocking, and Hansel is making a broom.

Gretel tells him to be quiet and reminds him of what father always says: "When the need is greatest, God the Lord puts out His hand."

Scene 2 Mother enters, and she is furious when she finds that Hansel and Gretel have not been working.

Mother sends Hansel and Gretel to the haunted Ilsenstein forest to look for strawberries.

He surprises her by taking from his pack a feast: Bacon, butter, flour, sausages, fourteen eggs, beans, onions, and a quarter pound of coffee.

Mother changes the subject to the broken jug, and after she finishes telling him the story, he laughs, then asks again after the children.

She lures children with cakes and sweets, pushes them into her oven, where they turn to gingerbread, and then eats them.

Hansel tries to comfort Gretel, but as a little man walks out of the forest, she screams in terror.

He calms the frightened children down by telling them that he loves them dearly, and that he has come to put them to sleep.

Gretel reminds Hansel to say their evening prayer, and after they pray, they fall asleep on the forest floor.

She sprinkles dew on them, sings of how wonderful it is to be alive in the morning with the beauty of the forest surrounding her, and leaves as the children stir.

Hansel and Gretel decide that the voice must have been the wind, and they begin to eat the house.

She tries to convince Hansel & Gretel to come into her house by offering them Chocolates, Tarts, Marzipans, Turkish Delight, Lollipops, Wedding Cakes, Strawberry Italian Ices, Blancmange, Almonds, Raisins, Peaches & Citrons but Hansel and Gretel are suspicious of the witch, so Hansel frees himself from the rope and he and Gretel begin to run away.

She tells Gretel to be reasonable, and then the witch goes inside to fetch raisins and almonds with which to fatten Hansel.

Using the wand, the witch forces Gretel to dance, then tells her to go into the house and set the table.

Hansel pretends to be asleep, and the witch, overcome with excitement, describes how she plans to cook and eat Gretel.

The oven begins to crackle and the flames burn fiercely, and with a loud crash it explodes.

They are asleep and unable to move, but they sing to Hansel and Gretel, asking to be touched.

Hansel is afraid, but Gretel strokes one on the cheek, and he wakes up, but is still unable to move.

He explains that this is heaven's punishment for evil deeds and reminds them, "When the need is greatest, God the Lord puts out His hand."

Orchestra - Münchner Philharmoniker Chorus - Knabenchor des Wittelbacher Gymnasiums München - Damen aus dem Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks Peter - Horst Günter Gertrud - Marianne Schech Hänsel - Gisela Litz Gretel - Rita Streich Die Knusperhexe - Res Fischer Sandmännchen - Elisabeth Lindermeier Taumännchen - Bruno Brückmann Orchestra - Dresdner Staatskapelle Chorus - Knaben des Dresdner Kreuzchors Peter - Theo Adam Gertrud - Gisela Schröter Hänsel - Ingeborg Springer Gretel - Renate Hoff Die Knusperhexe - Peter Schreier Sandmännchen - Renate Krahmer Taumännchen - Renate Krahmer Orchestra - Gürzenich Orchester Köln Chorus - Knabenchor Köln Peter - Hermann Prey Gertrud - Ilse Gramatzki Hänsel - Eugen Hug Gretel - Brigitte Lindner Die Knusperhexe - Edda Moser Sandmännchen - Ursula Roleff Taumännchen - Thomas Frohn Orchestra - Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Chorus - Tölzer Singerknaben Peter - Bernd Weikl Gertrud - Hildegard Behrens Hänsel - Jennifer Larmore Gretel - Ruth Ziesak Die Knusperhexe - Hanna Schwarz Sandmännchen - Rosemary Joshua Taumännchen - Christine Schäfer Orchestra - Masurische Philharmonie Chorus - Fuldaer Mädchenkantorei - Fuldaer Domsingknaben Peter - Joachim Klüft Gertrud - Esther Lee Hänsel - Tina Hörhold Gretel - Almut Wilker Die Knusperhexe - Johanna Rutishauser Sandmännchen - Martina Ramin Taumännchen - Birgit Nath For other film versions, see: Hansel and Gretel (film)