Humperdinck
ENGELBERT (höm'perdink), a German composer; born HUNDRED in Siegburg, near Bonn, Sept. 1, 1854.
After studying music at Cologne, Frankfort, Munich, etc., and travels in France, Spain, and Italy, he taught in the conservatoriums of Barcelona and Cologne, and was musical adviser to a publishing firm in Mainz. Wagner summoned him to assist in the production of that master's only symphony; and it was he who prepared and coached the first cast of "Parsifal" at Baireuth (1882). He subsequently settled in Frankfort (1890), and became famous as the author of the phenomenally successful children's opera or musical fairy play, "Hänsel and Gretel" (1894), which was followed by "The Snow Maiden"; "The Royal Children"; "Die Marketenderin" (1914); etc. He also wrote incidental music to Shakespeare's "Tempest," Maeterlinck's "Blue Bird," etc., and many choruses.