Black Rock Elementary School choir fourth and fifth graders rehearse on Friday for CU Opera's weekend performances of "Hansel and Gretel" at Macky Auditorium in Boulder. The students, who play gingerbread men, sing in German. (Matthew Jonas / Times-Call)
Times-Call Staff Writer
In Engelbert Humperdinck's 1893 opera, "Hansel and Gretel," a fence of traditional gingerbread-cookie-shaped panels surrounds the witch's gingerbread house.
When Hansel and Gretel defeat the witch, shoving her in the oven, those gingerbread cookies become human — the spirits of the children the witch had eaten were trapped inside.
And, since it's an opera, the children break out in song.
"It's a big celebration," said Leigh Holman, director of CU Opera.
This weekend, 40 of those gingerbread-turned-children singers are from Erie's Black Rock Elementary School choir. Another 10 are Boulder-area children. They will be performing with University of Colorado students at Macky Auditorium.
Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel”
Sung in German with English surtitles
When: 7:30 p.m. March 14-15; 2 p.m. March 16
Where: Macky Auditorium, University of Colorado Boulder campus
Tickets: $14 and up
Info: cupresents.org or 303-492-8008
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