Жюль Масснетің "Cendrillon" операсы

Opera in four acts by Jules Massenet based on Perrault's 1698 version of the Cinderella fairy tale

Cendrillon (Cinderella) is an opera—described as a "fairy tale"—in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Caïn based on Perrault's 1698 version of the Cinderella fairy tale. It had its premiere performance on 24 May 1899 in Paris. The New Grove Dictionary of Opera notes that Massenet's sense of humor and wit is more evident in this work, and the use of recurrent motifs is more discreet, while the love music "reminds us how well Massenet knew his Wagner". Albert Carré (director of the Opéra Comique and producer of the first staging) persuaded the composer to drop a prologue introducing the characters, but a brief epilogue survives.

The scenario was conceived by Massenet and Cain when they were in London for the world premiere of Massenet's La Navarraise At the time of the premiere, Massenet had announced in Le Figaro that Cendrillon would be his last lyric work (although in fact several more followed). The autograph score is dedicated to "Mademoiselle Julie Giraudon", who created the title role and subsequently married Henri Cain.

RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 24 May 1899(Conductor: Alexandre Luigini)Cendrillon (Cinderella)sopranofrMadame de la Haltière, stepmother of CendrilloncontraltoBlanche Deschamps JéhinLe Prince Charmant (Prince Charming)falcon or 'soprano de sentiment'Marie Louise van ÉmelenLa Fée (the Fairy)light sopranoGeorgette Bréjean GravièreNoémie, stepsister of CendrillonsopranoJeanne TiphaineDorothée, stepsister of Cendrillonmezzo sopranoJeanne Marié de L'IslePandolfe, Cendrillon's father'basse chantante' or baritoneLucien FugèreLe Roi (the King)baritoneDuboscLe Doyen de la Facultétenor (trial)GourdonLe Surintendant des plaisirsbaritoneÉtienne TroyLe Premier Ministre'basse chantante' or baritoneGustave Huberdeau1st spiritmezzo sopranoMarie Delorn2nd spiritsopranoFrançoise Oswald3rd spiritsopranoVilma4th spiritmezzo sopranoStéphane5th spiritsopranoCraponne6th spiritsopranoFouquéVoice of the royal herald (off stage)spokenA ballerinaJeanne ChaslesChorus: servants, courtiers, doctors, ministers, lords and ladies; Ballet – will o' the wisps, tailors, hairdressers, milliners, a fiancé and fiancée, daughters of nobility, princesses, dewdrops.

A prologue in front of the curtain, suppressed before the premiere, introduced the characters and invited the audience to enjoy the fairy tale "to escape from dark realities (pour échapper à des réalités sombres)" and to believe in the "fabulous (fabuleux)". The final words of the prologue are repeated at the end of the opera.

YearCast:Conductor,opera house and orchestraLabel1978Frederica von Stade,Nicolai Gedda,Jane Berbié,Jules BastinJulius Rudel,Ambrosian Opera Chorus and the Philharmonia OrchestraAudio CD: Sony Classical,Cat: SM2K911781979Frederica von Stade,Delia Wallis,Maureen Forrester,Louis QuilicoMario BernardiNational Arts Centre Orchestra and Chorus. (Audio recording of a performance (or of performances) in the National Arts Centre, Ottawa, July)Audio CD: CelestialCat: CA 62Audio CD: GalaCat: GL 100 7242011Joyce DiDonato,Alice Coote,Ewa Podleś,Jean Philippe LafontBertrand de Billy,Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House,Laurent Pelly, stage directorDVD: Virgin Classical,Cat: 60250992017Kim Lillian Strebel,Anat Czarny,Anja Jung,Juan OrozcoFabrice Bollon,Freiburg Philharmonic, Choruses of the Freiburg TheaterBarbara Mundel, stage directorOlga Motta, stage director, set and costume designer(recorded 30 April and 4 May)DVD: NaxosCat. no. 2.1105632018Joyce DiDonato,Alice Coote,Stephanie Blythe,Laurent NaouriBertrand de Billy,Orchestra & Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera,Laurent Pelly, producer and costume designer(recorded live on 28 April)HD streaming video:Met Opera on Demand