Massenet: Cendrillon (Cinderella) [Box set]

Chorus Director John McCarthy (Artist), Jules Massenet (Composer), Julius Rudel (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Ambrosian Opera Chorus (Performer), Frederica von Stade (Performer), Nicolai Gedda (Performer), Ruth Welting (Performer), Jane Berbie (Performer), Jules Bastin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Frederica von Stade, Nicolai Gedda, Ruth Welting, Jane Berbie, et al.
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra
• Conductor: Julius Rudel
• Composer: Jules Massenet
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: CBS
• ASIN: B0000025CG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,191 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #14 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Von Stade, Frederica
  • #44 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > French

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Introduction

2. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'On appelle, on sonne!'

3. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Du côté de la barbe'

4. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Faites-vous très belles'

5. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Prenez un maintien gracieux'

6. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Madame, ce sont les modistes'

7. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Félicitez-moi donc'

8. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Ah! Que mes soeurs sont heureuses!'

9. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Ah! Douce enfant'

10. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act I: 'Pour en faire un tissu'

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act III: 'Enfin, je suis ici'

2. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act III: 'C'est vrai!'

3. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act III: 'Lorsqu'on a plus de vingt quartiers'

4. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act III: 'Ma pauvre enfant chérie!'

5. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act III: 'Seule, je partirai'

6. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act III: 'Ah! Fugitives chimères'

7. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act III: 'A deux genoux / Je viens à vous'

8. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act IV: 'O pauvre enfant!'

9. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act IV: 'Ah! Ouvre ta porte'

10. Cendrillon, opera in 4 acts: Act IV: 'Avancez! Reculez!'

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for Opera Lovers, July 1, 1999

By 

Edward C. Pazicky "edpaz" (Port Charlotte, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Massenet: Cendrillon (Cinderella) (Audio CD)

Massenet's beautiful lyrical opera is recorded here with an unequalled cast. VonStade is absolutely delightful, Ruth Welting is absolutely enchanting; her coloratura is unparalelled in all of opera and her career should have gone on forever. Gedda, while miscast, is exceptional in the role of the prince. The recording is a must for any opera lovers' collection.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure magic, June 7, 2000

By 

John Cragg (Delta(greater Vancouver), B.C Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Massenet: Cendrillon (Cinderella) (Audio CD)

This is a marvellous recording. Frederica von Stade floats the title role in exquisite detail, passage after passage sounding just right, with a French style and clarity that puts most native French singers to shame. Even the boring bits (and it would not be 19th c. French opera without long boring stretchs where one can catch up on gossip without loss) become exciting when she is involved. The Philharmonia and Ambrosian Chorus under Julius Rudel are also at their best, and since both have a lot of work, this is a real plus. While Nicolai Gedda is not a soprano, I am more sympathetic to the transposition than many listeners, and he does sing very stylishly, though I suppose he was in his 50's when this was recorded. Jules Bastien makes up for lack of beautiful tone by a characterful performance and Jane Barbie is a delight. But it is von Stade that puts this one into orbit. It is now my favorite Massenet recording. And overall it makes a very stong version of the fairy tale.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forgotten Masterpiece, April 21, 2004

By 

Max "[e-mail]" (Scarborough, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Massenet: Cendrillon (Cinderella) (Audio CD)

Unlike the reviewer above, I didn't mind Nicoloi Gedda as the prince, but then I have never heard another recording of this opera. So far as I can make out there has never been another one; in the latter 20th-century it appears to have been produced only once (the production that led to this recording). Apparently it was written in a style that went out of vogue shortly after the first production--in 1902 I think (which, incidentally, was highly successful)--as a result of which this gem has been horribly neglected. If you like the samples that Amazon offers, rest assured that the entire score is just as good, or better, than what you heard here.