Royal Academy Opera: Cendrillon

Christmas arrives early with Royal Academy Opera's presentation of Massenet's charming Cendrillon, written during a golden era of French opéra-comique.The traditional Cinderella story, a magic fairytale of love against all odds, is given a twist or two by librettist Henri Cain. The rich, evocative score was first performed in 1899 and given some seventy performances in its first two years; and the opera, described by Louis Schneider as '(Perrault's tale) lightly dusted by Massenet with the magic powder of sounds', has continued to enchant audiences. While the humour is not perhaps as broad as that in Rossini's version of the fairy-tale, Cendrillon gave Massenet an opportunity, rare in his oeuvre, to display his wit and sense of comedy.

Royal Academy Opera welcomes the return of Christopher Cowell to direct this new production, conducted by the Academy's Head of Preparatory and Vocal Faculty Opera, Gareth Hancock.