Sun, 1. 12. 2024, 16.30 hrs
D1 THE GINGERBREAD COTTAGE
Venue: Zlín Congress Centre | Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s. | Price: 340,-
Prague Children's Opera soloists and choir
Anna Novotná Pešková, conductor
Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
The Gingerbread Cottage. A One-Act Opera to a libretto by Ladislava Smítková Janků, music by Jan Kučera
"It's nothing, little cottage, it's just the breeze caressing your sweet gingerbread."
The first Sunday of Advent at the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic is a day mainly, but not exclusively, for children, when the Orchestra teams up with the Prague Children's Opera and conductor Martin Vydra to bring us the popular tale of Hansel and Gretel. It was Božena Němcová’s re-telling of the story many years ago that inspired composer Jan Kučera to create this approximately hour-long one-act opera for children.
The tale of two young children lost in the woods exists in many different variations, but it always follows the story of the main characters - Hansel, Gretel and, of course, the evil witch Ježibaba, who in this version inhabits her cottage together with Grandpa Ježidědek. At the end of the story, an unknown woman helps both children to return home. Her comic dialogue with Ježidědek, who is looking for Hansel and Gretel, brings the story to a happy conclusion.
Jan Kučera's Gingerbread House is full of catchy melodies and presents the well-known tale in a witty and communicative way alternating musically between opera and musical, so even the youngest can easily follow the music and content. In addition to the main characters, the children's choir plays an important role with its almost continuous involvement both vocally, physically and with its acting, so The Gingerbread Cottage promises to be a fun musical experience for the whole family!