Cendrillon

Cendrillon (Cinderella) Jules Massenet (1842 - 1912).
Conte de fées in four acts. 1896.
Libretto by Henri Cain, after the fairy-tale by Charles Perrault.
First performance by the Paris Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart on 24th May 1899.

CHARACTERS

The familiar story unfolds with a first act in which Madame de la Haltière prepares her two daughters for the ball, leaving Cendrillon alone, when they have gone, to be encouraged and transformed by her Fairy Godmother. At the ball the Prince rejects other possible contenders for his hand, falling in love with the unkown Cendrillon. At home again, Madame de la Haltiére boasts of the success of her daughters. Cendrillon, comforted by her father, resolves to run away and in a second, magic scene dreams of her love for the Prince. The fourth act brings Cendrillon home again, the whole episode now to her a dream. News comes of the search for the owner of the missing glass slipper and Cendrillon enjoys the reality of final success.

There is an element of pastiche in Massenet's witty score of Cendrillon, with its magic scenes. Cendrillon's Ah! que mes soeurs sont heureuses (Ah! how happy my sisters are) may be heard in recital.