Cendrillon – Act 1 Finale (Joyce DiDonato, Eglise Gutiérrez, The Royal Opera)

This screening of Massenet’s Cendrillon is a touching, romantic interpretation of the much-loved story of Cinderella. The opera is full of wonderful music, from the impassioned love duet for Cendrillon and her Prince to the coloratura effervescence of the Fairy Godmother and the brilliantly-scored ‘March of the Princesses’. Director Laurent Pelly pays tribute to the opera’s fairytale origins, setting his production literally within a storybook.

When Cendrillon was staged by The Royal Opera in July 2011 it was the first time the opera had been performed at Covent Garden. It was released to cinemas six months later in January 2012. Bertrand de Billy conducts Massenet’s sparkling score with a wonderfully light touch; the superb cast includes Royal Opera favourite Joyce DiDonato as Cendrillon, Eglise Gutiérrez as La Fée, Alice Coote as her ardent Prince and Ewa Podlés in gloriously comic form as Cendrillon’s snobbish Stepmother.

[NilDesperandumVeritasOditMoras]

Modern life is often sadly free of magic and enchantment. The Cedrillion courageously puts the “M” and “E” back into the sterile modern life. Bravo!

[eroupopper]

How beautifully this production is. I wish this comes out on DVD!!

[rosy]

Un très beau spectacle à retrouver en DVD

[cgavin]

Love JDD silently opening her mouth to claim the final note that's actually sung by Gutierrez. Brah-vuh.

[Pouet]

Wait it's in French?! I think I never heard an opéra in French it's lovely