Engelbert Humperdinck's tuneful and delightful opera, loved by children and adults alike, is based on a Grimm fairy tale.

Hansel and Gretel are scolded by their mother for being lazy and are sent out into the woods to gather strawberries for supper. They get lost and eventually find a strange house made of candy. They start to eat it, not knowing it belongs to a wicked witch who likes to bake children in her magic oven and turn them into gingerbread.

"The glory of the production is Maureen Forrester's portrayal of the Witch, a generous, marvellous comic performance... the cameras have made a ruddy marvel of the witch's broom flight" (Toronto Telegram)

Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
National Ballet of Canada
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Mario Bernardi
A CBC production made in association with BBC/NET
(Colour)