Hansel Und Gretel (complete opera recorded in 2008)

"…the masterstroke which wins this show the memorable quality lacking in the indeterminate Royal Opera production… is the witch's supermarket house, brilliantly designed by Barbara de Limburg Stirum and brilliantly abetted by Wolfgang Ablinger-Speehacke's horror in pink. Jennifer Holloway's young-Harry Hänsel and Adriana Kucerová's Gretel - dazzlingly good in the solo at the beginning of Act II - manage to sing as they bounce to the LPO's high-energy, beautifully textured playing under Kazushi Ono (the horns sound glorious in this acoustic)." (BBC Music Five Stars)

Laurent Pelly (stage production)

A brand new, striking production of one of the most popular of operas: the only modern version of Humperdinck's classic in the Universal DVD catalogue

The first Hansel & Gretel DVD on Decca: Laurent Pelly's striking new production of Humperdinck's enduringly popular masterpiece.

The performance comes from Glyndebourne, where the production premiered in 2008. The singing and ensemble from the Glyndebourne cast is outstanding and received excellent reviews.

Laurent Pelly updates the action to the modern day, with the family living in a cardboard box and the witch's gingerbread house represented as the sweets and chocolate aisle of a supermarket! This makes for a striking twist on the traditional children's story.

Filmed in High Definition with substantial bonus - a 38 minute documentary including interviews with the cast, conductor and director.