Hansel and Gretel (opera) After several revisions, the musical sketches and the songs were turned into a full-scale opera. Humperdinck composed "Hansel and Gretel" in Frankfurt in 1891 and 1892. The opera was first performed in Hoftheater in Weimar on 23 December 1893, conducted by Richard Strauss. It has been associated with Christmas since its earliest performances and today it is still most often performed at Christmas time. "Hansel and Gretel" was first conducted in Weimar by Richard Strauss in 1893, followed by its Hamburg premiere on 25 September 1894, conducted by Gustav Mahler. Its first performance outside Germany was in Basel, Switzerland, on
Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H (also in the first version known as "Präludium und Fuge über das Motiv B-A-C-H", title in English: "Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H") (S.260i/ii [1st/2nd version], S.529i/ii [piano arrangement of 1st/2nd version]) is an organ fantasy on the BACH motif composed by Franz Liszt in 1855, later revised in 1870. Both versions were transcribed for solo piano by the composer. The piece was dedicated to Alexander Winterberger (who also played it on the premiere, 13 May 1856) and published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1856.