author
Adelheid Wette
1858–1916
Best remembered for shaping the words to Hansel and Gretel, this German writer brought folklore and family storytelling into one of the best-loved operas of the late 19th century. She also worked as a composer and folklorist, with a life closely tied to literary and musical circles.
1 Audiobook
Hänsel and Gretel: A Fairy Opera in Three Acts
by Engelbert Humperdinck, Adelheid Wette
About the author
Born in Siegburg on September 4, 1858, Adelheid Catharina Maria Humperdinck Wette was a German author, composer, and folklorist. She was the sister of composer Engelbert Humperdinck, and her name is most often linked with his opera Hansel and Gretel, for which she wrote the libretto.
What began as a family collaboration grew into a lasting classic. Her gift was to turn familiar fairy-tale material into language that felt lively, warm, and stage-ready, helping make the opera appealing to both children and adults. She is also associated with other literary and musical work connected to folklore.
Wette married the physician and writer Hermann Wette and spent part of her life in a household shaped by books, ideas, and music. She died on August 9, 1916, in Eberstadt. Though she is often remembered alongside her famous brother, her own contribution to German literary and musical culture still stands out clearly.