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
Rosalind Plowright of "Hansel and Gretel". Other recordings include "Maria Stuarda", "Otello", "Aida" and "Hänsel und Gretel", all for the Opera in English series for Chandos Records, "Elijah" also for Chandos, "La vestale" for Orfeo, "Les contes d'Hoffmann" for EMI, and "Il trovatore", "La forza del destino" and Mahler's "2nd Symphony" for Deutsche Grammophon. "La Belle Dame sans Merci" for Romeo Records – Release date 6 May 2014. Suor Angelica "Suor Angelica", "Il Trittico" from La Scala, Milan. Leonora "Il Trovatore" from L'Arena di Verona. Gertrude "Hänsel und Gretel" from The Metropolitan Opera, La Contessa di Coigny / Madelon "Andrea Chenier" from