Hansel and Gretel (1963 film) Hansel and Gretel (1963 film) Hansel and Gretel is a 1963 Australian TV adaptation of the opera "Hansel and Gretel" by Engelbert Humperdinck. It screened as an episode of "Wednesday Theatre" in 1966. It was an early role for Jackie Weaver who played Gretel and was aged 16; she had just appeared as Cinderella in a pantomime at Philip Street. Brian Gilbert, who played Hansel, was 13. The show was recorded during the visit to Australia of Australian conductor Charles Mackerras. He consducted the Sydney Symphony Orchestra while the opera was videotaped. Sydney Morning Herald commented on the limitations of
Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts In the first broadcast season only "Hänsel und Gretel" and "Das Rheingold" (February 26, 1932) were presented in their entirety; most operas were only heard partially. From the start of the 1933-34 season, complete opera broadcasts became the norm. Since 1931 most broadcasts have been of Saturday matinee performances, with only a handful of exceptions such as the opening night of the new Met, which featured a broadcast of Samuel Barber's "Antony and Cleopatra" on Friday September 16, 1966. The live radio broadcasts were originally heard on NBC, and became a staple of its Blue Network. Starting in 1944 the