Hansel and Gretel?

[ghughesarch]

I recall this from the 1970s - either an opera or ballet production of (probably) Hansel and Gretel, filmed in a rather "Singing Ringing Tree" style - the scene that sticks in my mind was of the witch being pushed into an oven.
Probably shown on the BBC as a Bank Holiday "special" (and probably with less hoo-ha from the usual quarters than the 2008 Royal Opera House production, broadcast on Christmas Day by the Beeb, which provoked a lot of "ban this perverted filth" stuff in the papers, which is all I can find by googling for it).
But I can't seem to find an earlier colour TV performance listed that my early memory might be of - it was certainly repeated as I saw it more than once.
Any ideas?

[Euryale]

The BBC broadcast a production of Humperdinck's opera on BBC2 on Boxing Day 1976. You can see it mentioned if you scroll down the TV listings on this website:

BBC1976 - UK Christmas TV


E.

[ghughesarch]

Thanks Euryale - I think that must be it. (I'd have been 4, and the BBC1 alternative, "Carry on at Your Convenience" might well have been deemed too racy)

[Euryale]

Thanks Euryale - I think that must be it. (I'd have been 4, and the BBC1 alternative, "Carry on at Your Convenience" might well have been deemed too racy)

Well, a repeat of the Hansel and Gretel opera was shown on BBC2 on 23/12/1978, so I'm guessing it was a re-showing of the 1976 production, and you mention seeing it twice.

This is a description of the 1978 showing from the Daily Express:



That makes it sound like The Singing, Ringing Tree!

I hope you finally caught up with Carry on at your Convenience!


E.