Engelbert Humperdinck's 1893 opera Hänsel und Gretel receives an imaginative interpretation in this Royal Opera stage production from 2008, helmed for the stage by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier. It recounts, in musical form, the familiar tale of a young brother and sister who discover a candy house in the forest and nearly fall prey to a cannibalistic witch. This version stars two women as the leads, Angelika Kirchschlager as Hansel and Diana Damrau as Gretel, with Anja Silja as The Witch. Christian Fenouillat designed the sets, and The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House provides musical accompaniment, under the baton of Colin Davis. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi