30 Mar 2008
MASSENET: Cendrillon
Cendrillion, Conte de Fées in 4 Acts
Music composed by Jules Massenet (1842–1912). Libretto by Henri Cain after Perrault.
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First Performance: 24 May 1899 at the Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique, Paris.
Principal Characters:
| Cendrillon | Soprano |
| Madame de la Haltière, her stepmother | Mezzo-Soprano or Contralto |
| Le Prince Charmant | Falcon or Soprano de sentiment |
| La Fée | Soprano léger |
| Noémie, stepsister of Cendrillon | Soprano |
| Dorothée, stepsister of Cendrillon | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Pandolfe, Cendrillon’s father | Basse chantante or Baryton |
| Le Roi | Baryton |
| Le Doyen de la Faculté | Tenor |
| Le Surintendant des plaisirs | Baryton |
| Le Premier Ministre | Basse chantante or Baryton |
Commentary:
“Cendrillon is the Massenet opera most readily approachable by those with reservations about his idiom. His musical sense of humour, all too seldom given full rein, is here at its frothiest, and liberally spiced with dry Gallic wit. Variety is assured by the four distinct soundworlds conjured up to tell the fairy-tale: the vigour and pomp of the court music, with Massenet’s best dance numbers apart from Le Cid and affectionate pastiche of classical forms from the ages of Lully and Rameau; the music for the fairy world, which has the airiness and harmonic savour of Mendelssohn crossed with Richard Strauss, both in their E major mode; the writing for Cendrillon and Pandolfe, showing Massenet at his most artlessly economical to match the simple virtues they represent; and the love music, which in its heavily perfumed chromaticism reminds one constantly how well Massenet knew his Wagner (as a student he may have played percussion in the Opéra orchestra at the famous Tannhäuser fiasco of 1861, and there are distinct echoes of the Bacchanale in Act 2 of Cendrillon). The mystical marriage of Act 3 is one of the composer’s most succulent love scenes.” Rodney Milnes: 'Cendrillon (ii)', Grove Music Online (Accessed 31 May 2006).
Click here for the complete libretto.
Syllabus:
| Act I | ||||
| Setting | Chez Madame de la Haltière | |||
| Summary | In the hope of attracting the Prince’s attention, Madame de la Haltière and her daughters dress and leave for the ball. Pandolfe bitterly regrets his remarriage but nevertheless accompanies his wife, heartbroken though he is to leave Cinderella to her miserable lot. The girl unenthusiastically returns to her chores but soon falls asleep. While Cinderella is sleeping, the Fairy Godmother uses the opportunity to dress the girl in a magnificent gown, putting a glass slipper on her foot so that she will not be recognized. Cinderella promises to return at midnight and leaves for the ball. | |||
| Sequence | ||||
| Scene 1 | Servantes et Serviteurs — On Appelle ! On
Sonne ! Pandolfe — Continuez . . . ce n’est que moi |
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| Scene 2 | Pandolfe — Du côté de la barbe est la toute puissance | |||
| Scene 3 | Mme de la Haltière et ses filles —
Faites-vous très belles, ce soir Mme de la Haltière (Temps de menuet) — Prenez un maintien gracieux |
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| Scene 4 | Les Domestiques — Ce sont les modistes ! ce
sont les tailleurs ! Mme de la Haltière — De sa robe, il faut que les plis Pandolfe — Félicitez-moi donc de mon exactitude Mme de la Haltière, Noémie, Dorothée, Pandolfe — De la race, de la prestance, de l’audace ! |
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| Scene 5 | Cendrillon — Ah ! que mes sœurs sont
heureuses ! Cendrillon — Reste au foyer, petit grillon Cendrillon — Comme la nuit est claire ! Le sommeil de Cendrillon |
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| Scene 6 | La Fée — Douce enfant, ta plainte légère Sylphes et lutins La Fée — Je veux que cette enfant charmante La Fée — Pour en faire un tissu magiquement soyeux Les Esprits — Tous les petits oiseaux nous préteront leurs ailes Cendrillon — Que vois-je ? Ah ! suis-je folle ! La Fée — Écoute-bien . . . quand sonnera minuit La Fée et les Esprits — Partez, Madame la Princesse |
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| Act II | ||||
| Setting | Chez le Roi | |||
| Summary | The guests try unsuccessfully to entertain the melancholy Prince. Ballet. Cinderella’s entrance attracts great attention. The young Prince and the girl fall in love at first sight, but soon midnight strikes and Cinderella must leave. | |||
| Sequence | ||||
| Scene 1 | Luth, viole d’amour et flûte de cristal
(Concert mystérieux) Surintendant des plaisirs, Doyens, Ministres, Courtisan et Docteurs — Que les doux pensers |
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| Scene 2 | Le Prince Charmant — Cœur sans amour, printemps sans roses | |||
| Scene 3 | Entrée du Roi — Mon fils, il vous faut
m’obéir Les Filles de noblesse — (Première entrée du ballet) Les Fiances — (Deuxième entrée) Les Mandores — (Troisième entrée) La Florentine — (Quatrième entrée) Le Rigodon du Roy — (Cinquième entrée) Ah ! nous sommes en sa présence ! Arrivée de Cendrillon — Voyez ! l’adorable beauté ! |
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| Scene 4 | Le Prince Charmant — Toi qui m’es
apparue Cendrillon — Pour vous, je serai l’inconnue Le Prince Charmant — Je te perdrais ! Cendrillon — Vous étes mon Prince Charmant Le Prince Charmant — Eh ! bien . . . laisse la main la mienne Le Prince Charmant — Suis-je fou ? Qu’est-elle devenue ? |
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| Act III | ||||
| Premier Tableau | ||||
| Setting | Le Retour du Bal | |||
| Summary | In her haste, Cinderella loses her slipper. Returning
home, Madame de la Haltière expresses her delight at the
Prince’s seeming coolness which caused the unknown girl to flee
from the ball. Cinderella is overcome with emotion. Regaining her
senses, she evokes her dead mother and, weary of life, rushes beneath
the Fairies’ oak to die. |
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| Sequence | ||||
| Scene 1 | Cendrillon — Enfin, je suis ici Cendrillon — A l’heure dite, je fuyais |
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| Scene 2 | Mme de la Haltière, Noémie, Dorothée —
C’es vrai ! Vouse étes, je vous le déclare Mme de la Haltière — Lorsqu’on a plus de vingt quartiers Cendrillon — Racontez-moi . . . qu’a dit alors le fils du Roi ? Pandolfe — Mais ma fille pâlit ! |
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| Scene 3 | Pandolfe — Ma pouvre enfant chérie ! Ah ! tu
souffres donc bien ? Pandolfe — Vienx ! nous quittterons cette ville Cendrillon — Maintenant, je suis mieux |
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| Scene 4 | Cendrillon — Seule, je partirai, mon pere Cendrillon — Adieu, mes souvenirs de joie et de souffrance |
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| Deuxième Tableau | ||||
| Setting | Au Chéne des Fées | |||
| Summary | Unable to see each other, the lovers recognize one another by their voices. They implore the Fairy Godmother to remove the bush which she had placed between them. The Prince and Cinderella fall asleep in each other’s arms. | |||
| Sequence | ||||
| Scene 1 | Voix des Esprits — (Chœur
invisible) La Fée — Fugitives chimères, ó lueurs éphémères Les Gouttes de rosée Les Esprits — Mais, là-bas, au fond de la lande obscùre |
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| Scene 2 | Cendrillon, le Prince Charmant — A deux
genoux, bonne marraine Le Prince Charmant — Vous qui pouvez tout voir et tout savoir Cendrillon — Une pauvre áme en grand émoi Le Prince Charmant — Tu me l’as dit, ce nom La Fée — Aimez-vous, l’heure est brève |
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| Act IV | ||||
| Premier Tableau | ||||
| Setting | La Terrasse de Cendrillon | |||
| Summary | Pandolfe emotionally witnesses his daughter’s convalescence. It is announced that the Prince is seeking the owner of the mysterious slipper. Cinderella regains hope. | |||
| Sequence | ||||
| Scene 1 | Matinée de Printemps Cendrillon — Je m’etais rendormie Pandolfe — Tu riais . . . tu pleurais . . . sans motif et sans trève Cendrillon — Hélas, j’ai donc rêve ! |
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| Scene 2 | Voix de jeunes filles — Ouvre ta porte et ta
fenétre Cendrillon, Pandolfe — Printemps revient |
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| Scene 3 | Entrée de Mme de la Haltière — Avancez !
Reculez ! Mme de lat Haltière — Apprenez qu’aujourd’hui l’ordre de notre Roi La voix du Héraut — Bonnes gens, vous êtes avertis Cendrillon — Mon rêve était donc vrai ! |
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| Deuxième Tableau | ||||
| Setting | Chez le Roi — La Cour d’Honneur | |||
| Summary | March of the Princesses. The Prince recognizes Cinderella and his love of life is renewed. Madame de la Haltière falls into Cinderella’s arms. “A happy ending is here for all,” concludes Pandolfe. | |||
| Sequence | Marche des Princesses La Foule — Salut aux Princesses ! Salut aux Altesses ! Le Prince Charmant — Posez dans son écrin sur un coussin de fleurs La Fée — Prince Charmant, rouvrez les yeux Cendrillon — Vous êtes mon Prince Charmant Pandolfe et les Chœurs — Ici tout finit, la pièce est terminée |
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