Music by Jules Massenet / Libretto by Henri Caïn July 3, 8, 11, 14, 16, 23
SYNOPSIS A Storybook Kingdom Pandolfe, a country gentleman, has married Madame de la Haltière, an imperious countess. She and her daughters, Noémie and Dorothée, bully Pandolfe’s daughter from his first marriage, Lucette – known as Cendrillon.
ACT I
surprise. The whole court, except Madame de la Haltière
The household prepares for a ball to be given at the Court
and her daughters, are charmed by the stranger, and
that evening. Pandolfe bemoans his lot: married to a
the Prince immediately falls in love with her. Left alone
nagging wife who ill-treats his daughter. Madame de la
with Cendrillon, he tells her of his feelings. Cendrillon
Haltière instructs her daughters on how to behave at the
is equally taken with the Prince, but at the first stroke
ball. She refuses to let Cendrillon attend the festivities or to
of midnight she hurries away, remembering the Fairy
let her father say goodbye to her. After her family has left,
Godmother’s words.
Cendrillon sits by the fire and dreams of the ball. Cendrillon’s Fairy Godmother appears and conjures her a coach, horses,
ACT III
a beautiful gown and glass slippers. She tells Cendrillon that
Cendrillon has returned home, crestfallen at having had to
she can go to the ball but must leave before midnight, and
leave the Prince behind. She remembers her frightening
that the glass slippers will prevent Cendrillon’s family from
journey from the royal palace and how she lost one of her
recognizing her.
glass slippers as she left the ball. Madame de la Haltière
ACT II
and her daughters enter, abusing Pandolfe. Madame de la Haltière then describes to Cendrillon the “unknown
The royal ballroom is full of guests enjoying themselves,
stranger” who appeared at the King’s ball, telling her that
but Prince Charming is in a melancholy mood. The
the Prince spoke contemptuously of the girl, and that the
King orders his son to find a wife. An unknown beauty,
Court regarded her with disdain. When Pandolfe tells his
Cendrillon in all her finery, enters the room to general
wife to be quiet, she turns on him again. Pandolfe has finally
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