Hansel and Gretel

Many operas are based on stories that you already know. For example, Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck is based on the fairy tale of the same name. In this familiar scene, Hansel and Gretel discover a gingerbread house in the forest. The wicked witch is about to make her appearance.



You can read more about the opera here.

You can listen to the beautiful broadcast here.

Madama Butterfly

SPOILER ALERT: In this scene of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, the broken-hearted ChoCho-San blindfolds her son before committing suicide. ChoCho-San has given up her religion and most of her culture to marry an American, who jilts her in the end. She has decorated her house in the most American style she can manage in 1904 Japan.




You can read more about the opera here, or listen to the broadcast here.