UK Opera Theatre Presents Humperdinck’s ‘Hansel & Gretel’
LEXINGTON, KY (Sept. 18, 2025) — University of Kentucky Opera Theatre invites audiences of all ages to journey into the magical world of “Hansel & Gretel,” Engelbert Humperdinck’s heartwarming and haunting operatic adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tale. Performances will be Oct. 3-5 at the Lexington Opera House, featuring a special student and family matinee as well as evening and weekend shows.
Sung in English with projected English supertitles, “Hansel & Gretel” brings a tender twist to the classic tale. In this retelling, the children are not abandoned but sent into the forest by their mother to forage for berries in the face of their family’s desperate poverty. Along their journey, they encounter gentle spirits, the Sandman, Dew Fairy and several protective woodland angels, before discovering the witch’s infamous gingerbread house. Set to some of the most stunning music in the operatic repertoire, this production will delight opera newcomers and seasoned audiences alike.
“This opera remains one of the most performed and beloved in the repertoire,” said Everett McCorvey, D.M.A., director of UK Opera Theatre. “With its themes of sibling love, the importance of caution when confronting strangers, and the iconic ‘Evening Prayer’ duet sung by Hansel and Gretel, it has become a timeless classic. It is widely considered a perfect ‘first’ opera — accessible, enchanting, and meaningful — for both adults and children alike.”
“Hansel & Gretel” will be performed 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at the Lexington Opera House for a special student and family matinee, followed by a 7:30 p.m. performance later that day. Additional performances include a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday, Oct. 4 , and a final matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. The run time is approximately two hours and 10 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com, or by calling the Central Bank Center ticket office at 859-233-3535 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. All phone orders include a per-ticket service fee.
About UK Opera Theatre
Part of the University of Kentucky School of Music in the College of Fine Arts, UK Opera Theatre has earned national recognition for producing fully staged operas and musical theater works. The program showcases the vocal talents of UK’s voice students while engaging the Lexington community through high-quality, accessible productions.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.