The Metropolitan Opera performs Laurent Pelly’s new production of Massenet’s French comic opera Cendrillon eight times at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center between April 12 and May 11, 2018.
Cinderella is an Ancient Tale
Cendrillon is the French name for Cinderella. It’s an ancient folk tale about a poor girl who finds sudden fortune.
The earliest recorded story is Greek from around 7 BC. Giambattista Basile (Italian) wrote the first European version in 1634. Charles Perrault (French) wrote Cendrillon, the popular version that we know today in 1697. Perrault’s added the pumpkin, the fairy godmother, and the glass slipper to the old tale.
The Brothers Grimm wrote Aschenputtel in German in their Kinder und Hausmärchen collection of short stories (Grimm’s Fairy Tales) in 1812. From there the story passed into English.
French composer Jules Massenet wrote the opera Cendrillon in 1899. In 1950 Disney Studios made an animated musical version of Cinderella.
Jules Massenet
The French Romantic composer (1842 – 1912) is best known for his operas. His most famous operas are Manon and Werther.
Cendrillon
Jules Massenet wrote his fairy tale opera in 1899. Henrie Caïn wrote the French libretto based on Perrault’s version of the story.
The opera premiered in 1899 at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra Comique in Paris, France.
Cendrillon Setting
The opera’s setting is a French royal court of the 17th century.
Cendrillon Roles
Cendrillon
Cendrillon is the poor girl Cinderella.
Pandolfe
Pandolfe is Cinderella’s father.
Madame de la Haltière
Madame de la Haltière is the evil stepmother.
La Fée
La Fée is the fairy godmother.
Le Prince Charmant
Prince Charmant is Prince Charming of course.
Metropolitan Opera’s Cendrillon 2018
The Metropolitan Opera performs Laurent Pelly’s new production of Massenet’s French comic opera Cendrillon eight times at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center between April 12 and May 11, 2018.
Barbara de Limburg designed the sets. Laurent Pelly designed the costumes.
Cendrillon Cast
Bertrand de Billy (Neuilly sur Seine, France) conducts.
Soprano Kathleen Kim (Seoul, South Korea) is La Fée.
Mezzo-Soprano Joyce DiDonato (Kansas City, Kansas) is Cendrillon.
Mezzo-Soprano Alice Coote (Chesire, England) is Le Prince Charmant.
Mezzo-Soprano Stephanie Blythe (Mongaup Valley, New York) is Madam de la Haltière.
Bass-Baritone Laurent Naouri (Paris, France) is Pandolfe.
Cendrillon Performances
Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 8 pm
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Friday, April 20, 2018 at 8 pm
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 1 pm
Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 8 pm
Monday, May 7 at 7:30 pm
Friday, May 11 at 8 pm
Cendrillon Tickets
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