They search for it in vain, and at last,
completely tired out, they sink down upon the moss beneath a spreading
tree. The Dustman--the German sleep-fairy--appears and throws dust in
their weary eyes. Together they sing their little evening hymn, and drop
off to sleep locked in each other's arms. Then the heavens open, and
down a shining staircase come the bright forms of angels, who group
themselves round the sleeping children, and watch over their innocent
slumbers until the break of day. Haensel and Gretel are aroused by the
Dew-fairy, who sprinkles his magic branch over them and drives the sleep
from their eyes. They tell each other of the wonderful dream which came
to both of them, and then, looking round for the first time, discover a
beautiful gingerbread house, close to where they were sleeping. This is
where the witch of the forest lives, who bakes little children into
gingerbread in her great oven, and eats them up. She catches Haensel and
Gretel, and nearly succeeds in her wicked schemes, but the children,
with great presence of mind, defeat her malice by pushing her into her
own oven. Then they free the other children who have been turned into
gingerbread through her magic spells, and the father and mother
opportunely appearing, all join in a hymn of thanksgiving for their
deliverance.
Humperdinck's music reproduces, with infinite art, the tender and
childlike charm of the delightful old fairy tale.
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