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Following a hit production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute in September and October, 2020, Lark Opera announces their upcoming production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s fairy tale opera, Hansel and Gretel. The story follows the two children as they laugh, fight, play, and learn to trust each other (and their wits) to outsmart the witch who intends to eat them. Performances will be at Lady Hill Winery on June 11, 2021, and at Utopia Vineyards on June 26, 2021. Both begin at 7 pm and will take place outdoors with a socially distanced audience. The opera will be performed in English and audience members of all ages are warmly welcomed to attend. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children under 18 and college students with ID.

The production stars soprano and Lark Opera founder Angelica G. Hesse as Gretel and mezzo soprano Jenna Elise Skarphol as Hansel, with mezzo soprano Allison Kim-Yok Knotts as the Witch. Soprano Lindsay Rae Johnson plays the Mother, and Katherine Goforth, a transgender woman and tenor, turns the part of the Father into a pants role. Erin Mikelle Walker rounds out the cast as the Sandman and the Dew Fairy. The performances will be accompanied by Lauren Servias, who teaches collaborative piano at Oregon State University.

Often performed at Christmas time in Europe, Hansel and Gretel is a favorite of young and old alike. The complex, Wagner-inspired music carries listeners through diverse moods and atmospheres from jovial to dreamy, from innocent to suspenseful. But make no mistake, the opera is more than high art: it also features some of the best-loved tunes in all of classical music such as Hansel and Gretel’s “Evening Prayer” and “Dancing Duet,” and “The Witch’s Ride.”

Based in Portland, Oregon, Lark Opera is a singer-led collaboration. We bring beloved opera classics to life in everyday environments — such as wineries, parks, and schools. Born amid the pandemic, Lark focuses on beautiful music and engaging storytelling. By keeping productions simple, each show is mobile, adaptable, and can be successfully performed outdoors. We hope to reach new audiences who may never have gone to “the opera” before — and perhaps surprise them with something new to love!

Lark’s inaugural production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute was performed following the fires that engulfed the area last fall. Once the smoke cleared up, “the production was far from a typical opera performance… There was almost a Shakespeare-in-the-Park feeling, a communal gathering of art sans air conditioning. … all pretense and extravagance [disappeared], leaving behind only what’s most important: words, music, and acting.” (Charles Rose, Oregon Live, October 15, 2020)