Production shot from Pacific Opera Project’s Hansel and Gretel
Pacific Opera Project is back this weekend and next with a production of Hansel and Gretel at Forest Lawn in Glendale. The opera tells the famous story of two siblings getting lost in the woods and encountering a witch with a grand, luminous score by the German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921), combining traditional folk melodies with Wagnerian flourishes. Like the Grimm’s fairy tale on which it is based, the work appeals to and can be appreciated on different levels by listeners of all ages, making it a near-perfect introductory opera.
Soprano Emily Rosenberg and mezzo-soprano Kara Morgan perform as the titular siblings, Melanie Ashkar is the Witch. Erin Theodorakis and Daniel Scofield are the Mother and Father, Anastasia Malliaras is the Sandman, and Brooke Iva Lohmann is the Dew Fairy. Brian Holman conducts the orchestra, while POP Founder and Artistic Director Josh Shaw directs the English language production. Performances will be held at Forest Lawn Glendale on Saturday, November 13, Sunday, November 14, Saturday, November 20, and Sunday, November 21, 2021, all at 5:00pm. Gates open at 4:00pm and patrons are encouraged to bri.ng a picnic. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased at Pacific Opera Project online.
