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
Hanna-Elisabeth Müller Rolando Villazón in the series "Stars de Demain" by Arte. At the Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Müller was member of the opera studio in the season 2010/11 and member of the company from the season 2012/2013 to 2015/2016. This resulted in a number of successful role debuts, e.g. as Gretel in "Hänsel und Gretel" (March 2013), Zerlina in "Don Giovanni" (May 2013), Susanna in "Le nozze di Figaro" (September 2013), Sophie in "Werther" (October 2015) und Marzelline in "Fidelio" (February 2016). Furthermore she presented roles which she already had performed at other opera houses, i.e. Zdenka in Andreas Dresen's new