Morning comes with the third act. The dew fairy sprinkles dew on the children. Suddenly they notice a little house made of cake and sugar. They start to break off little bits when a voice cries out from within and the witch opens the door. She throws a rope around Hänsel's throat, urging them both to enter. Frightened, they try to escape, but after binding them with a magic spell she imprisons Hänsel in a kennel, she forces Gretel to go into the house.
When she believes Hänsel to be asleep she turns her attention to the oven, then rides around the house on her broom-stick. When she alights she orders Hänsel to show her his finger. But it is still thin and the witch orders more food for him. While she turns her back, Gretel, seizing the juniper bough, speaks the magic words and breaks her brother's enchantment. Then the witch tells Gretel to get into the oven and see if the honey cakes are done. But Gretel pretends to be stupid and asks her to show her how to get in. Together the children push the old witch into the oven and slam the door. The oven soon falls to pieces. The children then see a row of boys and girls standing stiffly against the house. Gretel breaks the spell for them as she had done for Hänsel. There is general rejoicing. Gertrude and Peter now appear, the old witch is pulled out of the ruined oven as gigantic honey cake and everyone on the stage joins in a hymn of thanksgiving.
THE GOLDEN CROSS
Opera in two acts. Music by Brüll; text by H. Mosenthal, after the French. Produced: Berlin, December 22, 1875.
Characters
| Gontran de l’Anery, a young nobleman | Tenor |
| Colas, an innkeeper | Baritone |
| Christine, his sister | Soprano |
| Thérèse, his bride | Soprano |
| Bombardon, a sergeant | Bass |
Time—1812.
Place—Melun, near Paris.
Act I. The town of Melun is suffering heavily from the great campaign which Napoleon is undertaking against Russia in 1812, so many of the young men must take the field. Among the hardest hit are Thérèse and Christine, the first a bride, the other a beloved sister. Their Colas has been taken away; if he can find no substitute he must go to the war. Sergeant Bombardon, who is to take away the drafted men, is already in town with his soldiers. At the same time as the sergeant, a young nobleman, Gontran de l'Anery, arrives. He hears that Christine has promised her hand to the man who goes to war in place of her brother. She will give him a golden cross and when he brings it back will be his bride. But no one has the desire to expose himself to the hazards of war. Then Gontran, seized by a violent love, decides to take Colas' place. Through the sergeant he sends for the cross. Christine does not know who has offered himself for her brother.