27 Apr 2008

MASSENET: Chérubin

Chérubin: Comédie chantée in three acts.

Music composed by Jules Massenet. Libretto by Henri Cain and Francis de Croisset after the latter’s play.

First Performance: 14 February 1905, Monte Carlo Opéra.

Principal Characters:
Chérubin Soprano
L´Ensoieillad Soprano
Nina Soprano
La Comtesse Soprano
La Baronne Mezzo-Soprano
Le Philosophe Bass or Baritone
Le Compte Baritone
Le Duc Tenor
Le Baron Baritone
Le Capitaine Ricardo Tenor
L´Hôtelier Baritone
Un officier (très grand) Bass

Massenet´s comedy explores the love affairs of Cherubino, the amorous page of The Marriage of Figaro, the second play in the Beaumarchais Figaro trilogy. The title-rôle was designed for Mary Garden, Debussy´s first Mélisande.

[Source: Naxos]

Click here for the complete libretto.