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
Louise Alder the Age of Enlightenment in 2017, Atalanta in a new production of Xerxes at Oper Frankfurt also in 2017, and will perform the title role in Theodora at the BBC Proms in 2018 and Romilda (Xerxes) at Oper Frankfurt in January 2019. In December 2018 she will sing Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel) at Bayerische Staatsoper and in March 2019, the title role in La Calisto at Teatro Real, Madrid. Future debuts include Canadian Opera Company, English National Opera and the Royal Opera House. TV appearances have included a performance of Beethoven's Fidelio at the 2017 BBC Proms on BBC 4,