Hansel and Gretel (opera) Hansel and Gretel (opera) Hansel and Gretel (German: ) is an opera by nineteenth-century composer Engelbert Humperdinck, who described it as a "" (fairy-tale opera). The libretto was written by Humperdinck's sister, Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm brothers' fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel". It is much admired for its folk music-inspired themes, one of the most famous being the "" ("Evening Benediction") from act 2. The idea for the opera was proposed to Humperdinck by his sister, who approached him about writing music for songs that she had written for her children for Christmas based on "Hansel and Gretel".
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.