The German composer Engelbert Humperdinck wrote his first opera, Hansel and Gretel, in 1892. Within the next year, it had already been performed at over fifty opera houses around Europe. Today it is still very popular, and is often performed in the weeks before Christmas. The story is after the famous fairy tale of Brother Grimm, the opera’s lovely melodies are well known around the world. The Salzburg Marionette Theatre created a fascinating, heart-warming production with renowned singers and highly skilled puppeteers.