Engelbert Humperdinck composed the popular children's opera, "Hansel and Gretel", based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

In Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel", Hansel is the young boy who, along with his sister Gretel, encounters the Sandman during their journey through the forest.

Papageno, the bird-catcher, is a comical character in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" who assists Prince Tamino in his quest to rescue Pamina.

Benjamin Britten's "Curlew River" is a chamber opera inspired by the Japanese Noh play, "Sumidagawa", and explores themes of loss and redemption.

Amahl is the central character in Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors", a young boy who is visited by the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem.

Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Hugh the Drover" is an opera inspired by the fairy tale, "The Fisherman and His Wife", and tells the story of a drover who makes a pact with the devil.

Lucy is the protagonist of Menotti's "The Telephone", a one-act opera about a young woman who falls in love with a man she meets over the phone.

Benjamin Britten composed the children's opera, "The Little Sweep", which tells the story of a young chimney sweep who escapes from his cruel master.

Miss Todd is the protagonist of Menotti's "The Old Maid and the Thief", an opera about an old maid who takes in a young thief and tries to reform him.

Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird" is a ballet and opera based on the Russian fairy tale of the same name, featuring a magical firebird and a prince who must rescue a princess.

L'Enfant is the protagonist of Ravel's "L'Enfant et les Sortilèges", a child who is transformed into a teapot as punishment for his misbehavior.

Richard Strauss' "Aschenputtel" is an opera based on the fairy tale, "Cinderella", and tells the story of a young woman who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.

Rabbi Loew is the protagonist of d'Albert's "The Golem", a rabbi who creates a golem to protect his people from persecution.

Leoš Janáček's "The Cunning Little Vixen" is an opera based on the Moravian folk tale of the same name, and tells the story of a vixen who outwits hunters and humans alike.

Aninka and Pepíček are the protagonists of Krása's "Brundibár", two children who must save their mother from an evil organ grinder.