(Photos sourced from CNO’s official WeChat account)

China National Opera (CNO)’s “Hansel and Gretel” premiered on July 6^th and 7^th, 2024, presenting an intriguing paradox. As the first full-stage production of this beloved opera in China, it simultaneously feels both foreign and familiar. Sung in German, and largely faithful to the original, this production might seem an unlikely candidate for cultural relevance. Yet, it’s precisely this adherence to tradition that invites us to explore how a centuries-old German work can speak to Chinese operagoers.

Illuminating Production

The production’s visual elements immediately address this question. As the curtain rose, the audience was struck by the ingenious use of steampunk aesthetics. Cute, almost Disney-like, characters navigate a world of gears and steam engines, creating more than just a spectacle. Director Shi Jingfu’s attempts to create a “cool yet not overly sweet” fairy tale world, brought forth a blend of whimsical figures and an industrial backdrop, crafting a powerful visual metaphor. This juxtaposition cleverly reflects a modern dilemma: how to preserve childhood wonder while embracing the swift changes in today’s world.

But the production does not fully align with the director’s intention in its narrative choices. Decisions to change the stepmother to a birth mother, remove the children’s chorus, and reduce the witch’s role shift our focus to the protagonists’ journey. While this emphasizes Hansel and Gretel’s development, it comes at the cost of character depth and dilutes some of the original work’s complexity.

Musical Highlights

Despite these narrative compromises, the production shines vocally, transcending the language barrier through performances. The singing quality of the entire cast is first-class, particularly excelling in exploring deep and sometimes dark themes such as growth, poverty and danger.

Individual performances stand out for their ability to tell the story through emotional depth and character development. Wang Ye’s portrayal of the mother is impressive. Her passionate and grim singing effectively conveys the Hansel and Gretel family’s hardships. Soprano Li Jingjing’s portrayal of Gretel stands out as a testament to the transformative power of performance. Her journey from a self-conscious soprano to a vivid, impressive Gretel mirrors the character’s own path of self-discovery, inviting the audience to grow alongside her. Yang Li’s witch offers an intriguing contrast, presenting a character with a cartoonishly scary appearance yet philosophical words. This complexity adds depth to what could have been a one-dimensional role, reminding us of the shades of gray we encounter in our own lives.

The orchestral music, under conductor Yuan Ding’s baton, further enhances storytelling. Ding’s interpretation of the score, mostly sweet and loyal to the original, manages the feeling with finesse. The orchestral part creates a sonic world that complements the visual spectacle. The orchestration allows the audience to experience the unspoken fears, hopes and triumphs as their own. Particularly notable is the string section, which deserves praise for its gloriously golden texture. It beautifully captures opera’s central motif of cakes and candies while imbuing a fresh relevance when viewed through mature eyes. However, the orchestra occasionally struggles to capture the subtler, darker elements of the tale, missing an opportunity to add further depth to the production. At moments, it veers between excessively loud and weak passages.

As the final curtain fell, the audience emerged from the theater with a sense of renewal and invigoration. This unexpected feeling raises an intriguing question: “Why does experiencing this classic opera as an adult offer a fresh perspective on life?”

CNO’s production of “Hansel and Gretel” answers with masterful storytelling. By not only telling Gretel’s story, but making us feel it deeply through music and performance, it proves the unique power of opera lies in the act itself. It reconnects us with the courage and creativity of our younger selves while viewing these qualities through the lens of adult experience.

Through a blend of music and storytelling, China National Opera’s “Hansel and Gretel” demonstrates how a classic work can maintain its universal appeal across cultural boundaries. It offers a profound and moving experience that helps us rediscover strengths we may have forgotten and reshapes our understanding of ourselves and our world.