Engelbert Humperdinck

Born in Siegburg in 1854, Engelbert Humperdinck became one of the best-known German composers of his generation. He is remembered above all for Hansel and Gretel, a work that turned a familiar fairy tale into a full-scale opera loved for its charm, lyrical invention, and vivid orchestration.

Early in his career, he was associated with Richard Wagner and worked in the wider Wagner circle, an influence that can be heard in the sweep and color of his music. Even so, Humperdinck developed a voice of his own, blending late-Romantic richness with folk-like melody and a strong feel for story.

He continued composing for the stage and concert hall into the early 20th century, and he died in 1921. Today, his reputation rests largely on Hansel and Gretel, which remains a regular favorite in opera houses and an inviting gateway into German Romantic music.