Cendrillon 2006

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Synopsis
Artists

Glass slipper and all…

Massenet took the classic story of Cinderella, “sprinkled it with the magic powder of sounds,” and conjured opera’s most bewitching fairy tale.

Music By

Jules Massenet

Libretto By

Henri Cain

Act I

Madame de la Haltière’s town house. Madame de la Haltière has marshaled an army of servants to help prepare the family for the royal ball, hoping that her two daughters will catch the eye of the Prince. Pandolfe questions his decision to move to the city and take her as his second wife. Madame instructs her daughters on Prince-catching tactics and insists that they all leave for the ball before Pandolfe can say goodnight to his daughter Cinderella. She stays behind and falls asleep by the fire. Her Fairy Godmother arrives and orders the elves and spirits to prepare her for the ball. The Fairy Godmother tells Cinderella that the glass slippers will prevent her from being recognized and warns her to leave before midnight.

Act II

The ball at the Royal Palace. The Prince is melancholy, despite all attempts to entertain and amuse him. The King orders him to marry and various candidates arrive for his scrutiny. Cinderella appears and her great beauty causes general amazement. She and the Prince fall in love, but their duet is interrupted by the clock striking twelve. Cinderella hurries away, leaving one slipper behind.

Act III

Scene 1. Madame de la Haltière’s town house. Cinderella relives the night’s events. The family returns from the ball and Madame de la Haltière disputes Pandolfe’s account of what transpired. According to her, the Prince decisively rejected the bold intruder. Pandolfe notices that Cinderella is about to faint. He orders the women from the room and promises Cinderella that they will return to the country. He leaves to arrange their departure, but Cinderella is overcome by memories of her dead mother. She decides to escape and die alone.

Scene 2. A magic rooftop landscape. The Fairy Godmother creates a magic landscape, where Cinderella and the Prince arrive. They are able to hear but not see each other. After praying to be released from their misery, they recognize each other’s voices and reaffirm their love. Both fall into an enchanted sleep.

Act IV

Scene 1. A terrace of Pandolfe’s country home. It is several months later. Pandolfe tells Cinderella that she has been talking in her sleep about the ball and Prince Charming, and assures her that it was all just a dream. Madame de la Haltière and her daughters arrive, announcing that princesses from around the world have been summoned to try on the slipper. Cinderella realizes that her dream of Prince Charming is about to come true.

Scene 2. The Palace. The princesses promenade, but the Prince does not recognize any of them as his lost love. The voice of the Fairy Godmother is heard in the distance and Cinderella steps forward. She is reunited with the Prince as the crowd hails their future queen.

Synopsis

Act I

Act II

Act III

Act IV

Artists

Joyce DiDonato

Joyce DiDonato

Jennifer Holloway

Jennifer Holloway

Richard Stilwell

Richard Stilwell

Eglise Gutierrez

Eglise Gutierrez

Judith Forst

Judith Forst

Anne-Carolyn Bird

Anne-Carolyn Bird

Gabriela Garcia

Gabriela Garcia

Angela Mannino

Angela Mannino

Justin Petersen

Justin Petersen

Keith Jameson

Keith Jameson

Kevin Murphy

Kevin Murphy

Ricardo L. Lugo

Ricardo L. Lugo

Aaron Pegram

Aaron Pegram

Kenneth Montgomery

Kenneth Montgomery

Laurent Pelly

Laurent Pelly

Barbara de Limburg

Barbara de Limburg

Jean-Jacques Delmotte

Jean-Jacques Delmotte

Duane Schuler

Duane Schuler

Laura Scozzi

Laura Scozzi

Kostis Protopapas

Kostis Protopapas

Cendrillon 2006