Cinderella by Massenet, De (2024/2024), Dirigit per David Hermann,, Director musical Corinna Niemeyer, Opéra de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

In the paradise of (big) children Grand Prix de Rome, youngest member of the Institute, professor of composition at the Paris Conservatory (where he trained Chausson, Pierné and Schmitt), Jules Massenet remains in the eyes of history a skilful creator of melodies that appeal to the public. Unmotivated to revolutionize his art, he produced around twenty operas that are quite similar – but as these sound magnificently well, no one is going to complain! We readily quote Manon and Werther , but we cannot forget Thaïs (and his sublime Meditation dear to violinists), as well as a Cinderellawhose naturally magical character ideally marries its generous and… deliciously sweet pen. Composed between 1894 and 1895 to a libretto by Henri Cain inspired by Charles Perrault's tale, it premiered on May 24, 1899 at the Opéra-Comique and had a dazzling debut, with no less than fifty performances during the premiere alone. season. It's a fact: Massenet is there at the zenith of his career.