description Cendrillon Overview
"Cendrillon" is an opera in four acts by French composer Jules Massenet, set to a libretto by Henri Caïn that is based on Charles Perrault's 1698 fairy tale "Cinderella." Premiering at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1899, the work uses classical orchestration and soprano coloratura to explore the narrative. It distinguishes itself from other adaptations by introducing the character of the Fairy Godmother as a coloratura soprano, while Cendrillon is primarily sung by a mezzo-soprano.
help Cendrillon FAQ
What makes Massenet's Cendrillon different from Rossini's Cinderella opera?
Massenet includes a Fairy Godmother, a magical glass slipper, and an enchanted atmosphere drawn from Perrault. Rossini's La Cenerentola replaces overt magic with human schemes and uses a bracelet instead of a slipper.
Who is Prince Charming's voice type in Cendrillon?
Massenet wrote Prince Charming for a falcon soprano, a darker type of French soprano voice. Modern productions may cast either a soprano or a mezzo-soprano, creating a female-voiced pairing with Cendrillon.
Why do Cendrillon and the Prince meet again beneath a magical tree?
After fleeing the ball, both appeal to the Fairy and hear one another without initially being able to see each other. They recognize their shared love and exchange promises before the slipper later confirms Cendrillon's identity.
Is Cendrillon mainly a children's opera?
The fairy-tale plot is accessible to families, but the score is a full French opera requiring demanding principal singers and a large theatrical production. It premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1899.
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