Richard Wagner’s son Siegfried initially studied to become an architect, but the pull of music was too strong and he composed 15 operas, among other works. An Allem ist Hütchen Schuld! (‘Everything is Little-Hat’s Fault!’) has a multi-layered plotline that alludes to at least 40 fairy tales. These are all brought together into a storyline in which Katherlies’chen and Frieder’s intentions to be married take them on fantastical adventures, with the goblin Little-Hat at the heart of all the goings-on. With its expressive orchestration, lyricism and late Romantic colour, this is an opera that transports you into a world in which anything seems possible.

This recording of Siegfried Wagner’s An Allem ist Hütchen Schuld! is of a live performance of the Bayreuth production that was done in the year of the composer’s 125th birthday in August 2019. The attractive production uses a new critical edition of the score created by Ulrich Leykam, and it proved extremely popular with sell-out audiences at each performance. The earlier 2015 production by the late Peter P. Pachl first appeared on DVD (2220006) and shares several cast members with this more recent Bayreuth production.

Fairy tales and especially folk tales are back in mainstream television and film, both in Germany and across the Atlantic in the United States, and therefore worldwide. The release timing for this escapist and fantastical opera could hardly be better, and with its montage narrative technique it has plenty of modern elements to go along with its late Romantic but entirely accessible and indeed flamboyant, colourful and highly imaginative musical idiom.

Stage director Peter P. Pachl (who died in November 2021) worked at many German opera houses, as well as leading the pianopianissimomusiktheater which he founded in 1980. Other operas by Siegfried Wagner that he directed include Der Bärenhäuter, Der Kobold, Banadietrich, Der Heidenkönig, Der Schmied von Marienburg and Das Flüchlein, and as the leading expert in this field he served as dramaturge and director for several other operas by the same composer.

Cast:
- Litte-Hat, a goblin: Niklas Mix
- Frieder: Hans-Georg Priese (tenor)
- Katherlies’chen: Rebecca Broberg (soprano)
- Frieder’s Mother / The Sun / The Devil’s Grandmother: Alessandra di Giorgio (soprano)
- Trude / The Innkeeper’s Wife / The Fairy-tale Lady: Maarja Purga (mezzo-soprano)
- The Village Judge / The Sacristan / Neighbour / General / Lieutenant Devil: Daniel Arnaldos (tenor)