Cendrillon Opera: A Music Review

Looking for a music review of the Cendrillon Opera? You’ve come to the right place! Here, you’ll find all the information you need to know about this classic work, from the story behind it to the different interpretations that have been performed over the years.

Introduction

It was with great expectations and excitement that I attended the Cendrillon Opera at the San Francisco Opera House. I had heard many wonderful things about this opera and was eager to see it for myself. I was not disappointed. The music was absolutely beautiful and the performers were top-notch. I would highly recommend this opera to anyone who enjoys classical music.

What is Cendrillon Opera?

Cendrillon Opera is a music composition written by Jules Massenet. It is classified as an opera-comique and is based on the French fairy tale, Cinderella. The opera was first performed in 1899 and has since become one of Massenet’s most renowned works.

The story of Cendrillon Opera follows the typical fairy tale plotline. Cinderella is treated poorly by her stepmother and stepsisters and is made to do all the household chores. Despite her misfortunes, she remains kind and graceful. One day, a Fairy Godmother transforms her into a beautiful princess so that she may attend the Prince’s ball. At the ball, she captivates the Prince’s attention and he falls in love with her. However, she must leave before midnight or else the spell will be broken. The Prince finds her lost glass slipper and uses it to track her down. They live happily ever after.

The music of Cendrillon Opera is typical of Massenet’s style – lyrical and melodious with an elegant charm. The opera contains several well-known arias, such as “Cinderella’s Waltz” and “The Fairy Godmother’s Song”. The work is also notable for its innovative use of the leitmotif technique, which was relatively new at the time.

If you are a fan of opera or French fairy tales, then Cendrillon Opera is definitely worth checking out!

What to Expect from Cendrillon Opera

Cendrillon Opera is a French opera based on the fairy tale Cinderella. It was composed by Jules Massenet and has been performed all over the world. The music is beautiful and whimsical, and the story is captivating. The opera is sung in French, but there are subtitles available in many languages. If you are not familiar with opera, this may be a good introduction to the genre.

Music

The Cendrillon Opera, composed by Jules Massenet, is based on the classic French fairy tale, Cinderella. The music is beautiful and haunting, and the story is one that is timeless. The Cendrillon Opera is a must-see for any music lover.

The Score

The Cendrillon score is by 50-year-old French composer Nicolas Isouard. It is based on the 1697 version by Nicolas Arencibia, not the more commonly known version by Charles Perrault and Jean-Francois had been used in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s film and Francesca Zambello’s California Opera production. Therefore, it was a bit of a surprise to find a newly composed score for this Cendrillon.

The overture began with a slow, repetitive melody in the strings that sounded like it was going to be quite boring. However, it eventually picked up the pace and became more interesting. The same could be said for the entire score. It was slow to start, but once it got going, it was quite enjoyable.

There were several beautiful moments throughout the opera, such as in Act 2 when Cendrillon and her Fairy Godmother are singing about their wish to go to the ball. The music here is quite lovely and really allows the emotions of the characters to come through.

Another stand-out moment is in Act 3 when Cendrillon is singing her famous aria, “N’est-ce pas merveilleux?” (Isn’t it wonderful?). This is probably one of the most well-known moments from any version of Cinderella and Isouard’s music does not disappoint. It is truly magical and brings the opera to a wonderful conclusion.

The Singing

The cast of Cendrillon gave a beautiful performance. The highlight of the opera was definitely the singing. All of the voices sounded great together and blended well. The high notes were hit perfectly, and the low notes were sounded clearly. There was a good mix of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses, which created a full sound. The dynamics were also well done. The transitions from quiet to loud and back again were done smoothly and enhanced the emotion of the music.

The Orchestra

The music in Cendrillon is by French composer Jules Massenet. The work was first performed in 1899 and is based on the fairy tale Cinderella. The piece is written in the operatic tradition and employs a variety of musical styles, including folk music, ballet, and popular song.

The orchestra for Cendrillon is relatively small, consisting of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The score makes use of a number of special effects, such as running water and bird calls. These are achieved using a variety of methods, including onstage musicians and recorded playback.

The overall effect of the orchestra is one of lightness and delicacy. This suits the fairy-tale subject matter and also reflects the fact that Massenet was more interested in melody than in complex harmonic structures.

Plot

The Story

The story of Cendrillon is one that will be familiar to many. It is the story of a young woman, Cendrillon, who is abused by her stepmother and stepsisters. They make her do all the work around the house and treat her badly. One day, an invitation arrives for all the eligible young ladies in the kingdom to attend a ball at the palace. Cendrillon’s stepsisters are thrilled and start getting ready immediately, but they tell Cendrillon that she can’t go because she’s not good enough.

Cendrillon is heartbroken, but she is resigned to her fate. That is until her fairy godmother appears and tells her that anything is possible if she believes in herself. With a wave of her wand, the godmother transforms Cendrillon’s rags into a beautiful gown and glass slippers. She warns Cendrillon not to stay at the ball past midnight, or she will turn back into a maid.

Cendrillon goes to the ball and meets the prince. They fall in love and dance together all night long. But as midnight approaches, Cendrillon realizes she has to go home. She loses one of her glass slippers on the stairs as she rushes away. The prince finds it and decides he will only marry the woman whose foot it fits. He searches far and wide but can’t find her. His advisors tell him to give up, but he won’t give up until he finds his true love again…

The Characters

The opera Cendrillon by Jules Massenet is based on the fairy tale Cinderella. The titular character is a young woman who is oppressed by her stepmother and stepsisters. She is rescued by her fairy godmother, who gives her a magical gown and glass slipper. With these, she attends the prince’s ball, where she captures his heart. Cendrillon is a charming opera with delightful music and interesting characters.

The main character, Cendrillon, is a victim of circumstance. She is a kind and sweet young woman who only wants to be loved and accepted. Her stepmother and stepsisters are cruel to her, making her life miserable. When her fairy godmother appears and transforms her into a beautiful princess, she finally has a chance to be happy. Cendrillon is a sympathetic character who will resonate with many people.

The other characters in Cendrillon are also interesting. The stepmother is a typical villainous type, being cruel and heartless to Cendrillon. The stepsisters are not as evil as the stepmother, but they are still mean to Cendrillon. They are more comical characters than truly villainous ones. The prince is a handsome man who falls in love with Cendrillon at first sight. He is a typical fairytale prince who rescues the princess from her difficult life.

Cendrillon is an enjoyable opera with accessible characters and lovely music. It is sure to please fans of fairy tales and operas alike.

Conclusion

Cendrillon Opera, by Jules Massenet, is a music composition of high quality. It is an excellent work that can be said to be on the same level as his earlier Operas.

Overall Thoughts

Cendrillon Opera, by Jules Massenet, is a story that many will be familiar with. It tells the story of a young girl, Cendrillon, who is forced into servitude by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. She is given hope by her Fairy Godmother who transforms her into a beautiful Princess for the Royal Ball. Here she meets the Prince Charming who she falls in love with and he eventually reveals his identity to her. Although the two are from different worlds, they find a way to be together and live happily ever after.

The music in Cendrillon Opera is absolutely beautiful. The score is very complex and interesting to listen to. It’s clear that Massenet put a lot of thought and effort into the music for this opera. The singing is also excellent. Overall, I thought Cendrillon Opera was a very enjoyable experience and I would recommend it to anyone who loves classical music or opera.

Would You Recommend It?

Based on the production as a whole, I would not recommend this show to others. The performers did not seem to be very well-rehearsed and the choreography was often sloppy. The music was also quite repetitive and lacked variety. If you are a fan of opera, you might enjoy this production more than I did.