Published: March 11, 2014

black rock

Black Rock Elementary School choir fourth and fifth graders rehearse on Friday for CU Opera's weekend performances of "Hansel and Gretel" at Macky Auditorium in 麻豆影院. The students, who play gingerbread men, sing in German. (Matthew Jonas / Times-Call)

By Victoria A.F. Camron

Times-Call Staff Writer

In Engelbert Humperdinck's 1893 opera, "Hansel and Gretel," a fence of traditional gingerbread-cookie-shaped panels surrounds the witch's gingerbread house.

When Hansel and Gretel defeat the witch, shoving her in the oven, those gingerbread cookies become human 鈥 the spirits of the children the witch had eaten were trapped inside.

And, since it's an opera, the children break out in song.

"It's a big celebration," said Leigh Holman, director of CU Opera.

This weekend, 40 of those gingerbread-turned-children singers are from Erie's Black Rock Elementary School choir. Another 10 are 麻豆影院-area children. They will be performing with University of Colorado students at Macky Auditorium.

Engelbert Humperdinck鈥檚 鈥淗ansel and Gretel鈥

Sung in German with English surtitles

When: 7:30 p.m. March 14-15; 2 p.m. March 16
Where: Macky Auditorium, 麻豆影院 campus
Tickets: $14 and up
滨苍蹿辞:听听or 303-492-8008

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