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Overview
Synopsis
Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon is a retelling of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale, composed in an operetta style combining musical numbers and dialogues, and intended for salon style chamber performances, such as it received at its premier, in Viardot’s own salon in 1904.
Instead of a step-mother, this story has the foolish Baron de Pictordu, with his two vain daughters, Maguelone and Armelinde, that are both after the Prince. After an invitation to the palace for a grand ball arrives, Maguelone and Armelinde prepare for such a wonderful event. Marie, who they call ‘Cendrillon’ is left behind while everyone else attends the ball. Hearing her sad song, La Fée (the fairy godmother) appears and promises to make Cendrillon’s dreams come true: she will go to the ball. Meanwhile, the Prince and his good friend Count Barigoule swap places to test out the true natures of the potential brides. A mysterious stranger appears at the ball, and she and the Prince fall in love at first sight, but will he be able to find her again when she runs away at midnight?
In her retelling of this well-loved story, Viardot seems to reference both Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Massenet’s Cendrillon, to create this charming, rather under-appreciated, work.
Show Information
- Music
- Pauline Viardot
- Libretto
- Pauline Viardot
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Cendrillon by Charles Perrault
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1904
- Genres
- Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- fairy tale
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Piano Only
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Chamber Opera, College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Mature Adult, Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Premier Tableau
Introduction
Scene One
Aria: ‘Il était jadis un prince’ - Cendrillon
Scene Two
‘Entraz, mon brave homme, entraz!’ - Cendrillon, Prince (in disguise as a beggar ‘Mendiant’)
Scene Three
‘Oh la charmante enfant!’ - Mendiant
Scene Four
‘Ah j’entends ces demoiselles!’ - Cendrillon, Mendiant
Scene Five
‘Moi aussi, je lui donne un pièce et toute neuve encore!’ - Maguelonne, Armelinde, Cendrillon
Trio: ‘Nous sommes assaillis’ - Maguelonne, Armelinde, Cendrillon
‘Et quant a tes pauvres!’ - Cendrillon
Réponse de Cendrillon: ‘Si je n’y venais pas’ - Cendrillon
Scene Six
‘Nous acceptons avec grand plaisir’ - Maguelonne, Le Prince, Cendrillon
Scene Seven
‘Les plus belles de toutes!’ - Cendrillon, Armelinde, Maguelonne
Trio: ‘Je serai charmante, toujours élégante’ - Armelinde, Maguelonne, Cendrillon
Scene Eight
‘Cendrillon! Viens donc’ - Le Baron de Pictordu
Scene Nine
‘Ah je sais pourquoi’ - Cendrillon
Scene Ten
Aria:‘Hier je vis circuler une voiture immense’ - Le Baron de Pictordu
Scene Eleven
‘Superbe aussi!’ - Le Baron, Armelinde, Maguelonne
Scene Twelve
Trio: Je serai charmante, toujours élégante’ - Maguelonne, Cendrillon, Armelinde
‘Est ce que cela te fait de la peine?’ - Cendrillon
‘Chere sours, soyez heureuses’ - Cendrillon, Armelinde, Maguelonne
Scene Thirteen
‘Il était jadis un prince qui voulait se marier’ - Cendrillon, La Fée
Scene Fourteen
‘Serait-ce elle? - Cendrillon
Aria: ‘Je viens te rendre à l'espérance’ - La Fée
Scene des transformations
‘Ecoute, et obeis’ - Cendrillon, La Fée
‘Tu quitteras la fête avant minute’ - La Fée
Deuxième Tableau
Scene One
Aria: ‘Puisque me voila Prince pendant quelques heures’ - Barigoule
Scene Two
‘Attention a la reverence’ - Le Prince, Barigoule
Scene Three
‘Madame, qui ai-je l’honneur de recevoir dans mon château?’ - Barigoule
‘Quelle est cette belle inconnue?’ - Maguelone, Armelinde, Barigoule, Le Baron de Pictordu, Le Prince, Cendrillon
‘Eh bien, mesdames faites un petit concert.’ - Barigoule, Armelinde, La Fée
‘Le village est tout en fête’ (No. 7 from 12 Mazurkas by Viardot and Chopin ‘La Fete’) - La Fée
Le Menuet
Scene Four
‘Qui m’aime nous suive’ - Cendrillon, Le Prince
Duet: ‘C’est moi! Ne craignez rien!’ - Le Prince, Cendrillon
Scene Five
‘Fa re ‘mounbar chettino in mezzo al mare’ - Chorus
Troisième Tableau
Introduction
Scene One
‘Je vais ouvrir moi même’ - Le Baron de Pictordu
_Scene Two _
Duet: ‘Votre Altesse me fait l’honneur d’une visite’ - Le Baron de Pictordu, Barigoule
Scene Three
‘J’entends ces Dames qui arrivent’ - Le Baron de Pictordu
‘Quelle drôle d’aventure’ - Chorus of Ladies, Maguelone, Armelinde
Scene Four
‘Non, non, non, non!’ - Footmen, Le Prince, Barigoule Essayage
Scene Five
‘Allez la chercher et amenez la ici’ - Barigoule, Cendrillon
Scene Six
‘Appelle-moi papa!’ - Cendrillon
‘Ah!’ - La Fée
Finale ‘Je viens pour la dernière fois’ - La Fée, Cendrillon, Maguelone, Armelinde, Le Prince, Le Baron de Pictordu, Barigoule
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.