Straight Out of A Fairytale: Opera San José’s Hansel and Gretel
Do you remember the enticing story of Hansel and Gretel from your childhood? Complete with the elaborately iced gingerbread house, cackling witch and rambunctious siblings, Opera San José presents Hansel and Gretel. Just like the fairytale many of us grew up with, the opera follows Hansel and Gretel from their humble cottage to the magical forest where they are kidnapped by the evil Witch who tries to turn them into gingerbread and eat them. Unlike many other operas, Hansel and Gretel is sung in English with accompanying English supertitles, allowing for young children to easily be immersed in the performance.
Often times overlooked, the musical score plays an important role in this production. From the peaceful and lullaby-like beginning of the overture to the playful tune encompassing the two siblings’ relationships to the distinctly evil sounding tune of the Witch’s song, the music guides the opera. Especially suitable for the children in the audience, the conductor and the orchestra seem to plunge viewers into fairytale land at once. 
As opera is known for its harmonious voice and powerful acting, Hansel and Gretel was not without passionate singers. In particular, Stephanie Sanchez playing Hansel and Elena Galván cast as Gretel created a mesmerizing harmony of voices. Not only did their youthful energy and amazing acting seem to paint the image of two young children, their compelling voices encompassed all that opera is known for. Another pair of voices that blended well together, were the Mother, Kerriann Otaño, and the Father, Eugene Brancoveanu, whose lower octaves contrasted well with the young voices of Hansel and Gretel. In addition,The Sandman, played by Talin Nalbandian, and Amy Goymerac as the Dew Fairy both produced such dynamic tones that stood out as well. Nalbandian’s mysterious atmosphere and sweeping costume allowed for her to capture the audiences’ attention. Goymerac took center stage with her flamboyant dress, resembling Elsa’s ice queen gown, and her confetti cannons delighted the young audience members. 
Opera San José’s small touches of comedy throughout the production were refreshing for the viewers as well. Some highlights were when the Witch, performed by Kerriann Otaño, rode a bicycle around the stage to represent her flying on a broomstick and how the gingerbread cookie, which the Witch turns into, was a voluptuous mirror image of the malevolent antagonist. Tucked into the classic storyline, these comedic elements got audience members laughing right until the curtain call. Overall, Hansel and Gretel is a performance that is not to miss. Its characteristic fairytale atmosphere and hilarious moments are only two of the infinite list of reasons to attend. Perfect for children and new opera goers, the production is a great start to the upcoming holiday season!Watch Opera San José’s production of Hansel and Gretel at the California Theater right in Downtown San Jose from 11/16-12/1. See https://www.operasj.org/hansel-and-gretel/ for more details!
