Humperdinck: Hansel und Gretel. Anna Moffo, Helen Donath, Christa Ludwig, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Lucia Popp; Kurt Eichhorn, Munich Radio Orchestra. RCA 74321-25281-2 (2-disc set).

Humperdinck: Hansel und Gretel. Anna Moffo, Helen Donath, Christa Ludwig, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Lucia Popp; Kurt Eichhorn, Munich Radio Orchestra. RCA 74321-25281-2 (2-disc set).

Engelbert Humperdinck's 1893 opera Hansel und Gretel is one of the sweetest, gentlest, most tuneful, yet exciting pieces of music ever written for children or adults. It has all the qualities of a great fairy tale. And it has been fortunate over the years to have received a number of good recordings, in particular the 1953 version from Karajan, Schwarzkopf, and company (EMI). But for audiophiles who won't put up with monaural sound, this reissue from RCA, with only the slightest hint of tape hiss, provides a pleasing, mid-priced alternative. Indeed, of all the stereo versions available, this one, originally recorded for Eurodisc in 1971 is the best bargain. It does not quite outweigh the merits of Sir Colin Davis's stereo set for Philips, but it sounds as good or better.

The plot is based on the popular tale by the Brothers Grimm about a brother and sister who live on the edge of-a forest. The forest is haunted by a witch who bakes little children into gingerbread. Their family is very poor, and one day while picking berries, Hansel and Gretel get lost and captured by the witch. But the resourceful children turn the tables on the witch, shoving her into the oven, instead. The story is simple enough for kids to follow, as well as non opera buffs. And with its abundance of cheerful, enchanting, atmospheric, and sometimes spooky melodies, it's a sure crowd pleaser.

Eichhorn's direction is the real star of the show. He conducts the piece with a winning simplicity that is hard to resist. The stars, too, do their part; and a more star-studded cast one could hardly ask for. Fischer-Dieskau as the father is especially appealing, and Ludwig as the Witch is appropriately sinister, if not too menacing. Anna Moffo is an adequate Hansel and Helen Donath a delicate Gretel, although both of their voices seem a little old for the children. RCA's sound is wide, deep, and ambient, somewhat veiled, but set within a reasonably natural acoustic. The rival Karajan set is more Wagnerian in scope, yet it is still as intimate as any of them; if it were in stereo, it would be my unconditional first choice. As it stands, we have alternatives from Colin Davis, whose interpretation is most magical but whose sound is a bit more inflated than the rest; from Tate (EMI), who is most energetic and except for some edginess the best recorded; and from Runnicles (Teldec), the only one I have not actually heard but about which I have read good notices. Anyway, this new RCA reissue is close to the best, and for its asking price makes a safe first-time investment.