Opera in German were usually based on stories from Germanic or Arthurian legend. Finally, Wagner built his own opera house at Bayreuth, exclusively dedicated to performing his own works in the style he wanted. Wagner's innovations cast an immense shadow over subsequent composers, who struggled to absorb his influence while retaining their own individuality. One of the most successful composers of the following generation was Humperdinck, whose "Hänsel und Gretel" (1893) still has an assured place in the standard repertoire. Humperdinck turned back to folk song and the tales of the Brothers Grimm for inspiration. Yet, though "Hänsel" is often viewed as the
Amor und Psyche Amor und Psyche Amor und Psyche is an opera ("singspiel") in four acts composed by Ludwig Abeille to a German "libretto" by Franz Carl Hiemer (1768–1822). Based on the story of Cupid and Psyche, the opera premiered on January 18, 1800 at the Hoftheater (Herzöglichestheater) in Stuttgart. "Amor und Psyche" was popular in Germany in its day and a version of the score for voice and piano was published by Breitkopf & Härtel. Franz Carl Hiemer went on to write the libretto for Abeille's third opera, "Peter und Ännchen" (1809) as well as the libretti for Carl Maria von Weber's