Title: Music 3.5; production 0-
Product review: If you want a children's cartoon, this Hansel and Gretel is for you. If you want opera, this is a travesty!Anthony Rossi wrote, "It seems to be popular today to take a composer's creation and twist it into something totally unrecognizable from the original libretto." Bravo, Anthony! Unfortunately, this is what the Met is doing with almost all their new productions.First, there is no logic in saying that this opera takes place in three kitchens. It does not; it takes place in the cottage, in the woods, and at the gingerbread house. Waiters in pig faces have no place in the story. And the greatest travesty of all is the Jerry Lewis/Three Stooges approach to the witch. She (he) is supposed to be frightening, not maniacally hysterical. If you want a food fight, go to Animal House.Besides a terrible production, the singing is not up to the usual Met standards.I am delighted that I saw this first on television and did not waste my money buying the dvd.
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