Libretto by Adelheid Wette, after the tale by the Brothers Grimm
Premiered December 23, 1893 at the Court Theatre in Weimar, Germany

Act I

Hänsel and Gretel are home alone, deep in a German forest. Their parents are away, and they have a long list of chores. When Gretel begins to recite a nursery rhyme, Hänsel interrupts, crying and hungry. Gretel chases her brother, calling him a complaining crocodile. She reveals a hidden pitcher of milk, but will not let him drink it. She distracts him with dancing lessons, and they soon forget their troubles with all the fun.

Suddenly their mother bursts in, angrily reproving them for their horseplay. In the confusion, the pitcher of milk is knocked to the floor, and dinner is lost. Gertrude sends her children into the woods to pick strawberries and collapses, exhausted. Soon the merry voice of her husband, Peter, is heard. Gertrude can tell he is drunk, but her anger melts away when he shows her all the food he has purchased and explains that he sold all his brooms. Elated, they celebrate, but Peter notices that his children are missing. When Gertrude tells him that she sent them to the woods, he is horrified. He has heard about a Witch who lives there and bakes children into gingerbread. They rush off to find Hänsel and Gretel.

Act II

In the forest, Gretel weaves wreaths out of wild flowers as Hänsel picks the last of the strawberries. He offers them to Gretel, and she eats one. As they leave the glade, a cuckoo calls, and the children imitate the sounds as they munch on the berries. Soon it is dark, and they realize that their basket is empty, and worse, they are lost. Terrified, they spot wild animals behind every tree. An owl glowers at them from an overhanging branch, and the Sandman appears. He scatters gold sand and the children say their prayers and fall asleep. Angels keep watch as they rest.

Act III

Hänsel and Gretel are awakened by the beautiful Dewfairy. The morning mist dissipates and a gingerbread and candy house is revealed, with a fence made of gingerbread children. Hänsel nibbles on a piece of the cottage, and hears a voice from inside. An old crone emerges, attempting to lure the children inside. When they resist, she casts a spell on them and locks Hänsel in a cage. Filled with joy, the Witch contemplates the coming feast. She summons Gretel to the oven, but Gretel feigns ignorance and asks the Witch to show her how to make the oven work. As the Witch demonstrates, Gretel pushes her in and slams the door. As Hänsel and Gretel dance with joy, the gingerbread children come back to life and Peter and Gertrude arrive. All give thanks to the Lord.