{"id":102473,"date":"2024-03-15T13:15:33","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T17:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=102473"},"modified":"2024-04-08T14:09:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T18:09:28","slug":"scrutiny-fanciful-presentation-massenets-cendrillon-cinderella-uoft-opera-sparkles-young-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/03\/15\/scrutiny-fanciful-presentation-massenets-cendrillon-cinderella-uoft-opera-sparkles-young-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"SCRUTINY | A Fanciful Presentation of Massenet\u2019s Cendrillon \u2014 Cinderella \u2014 By UofT Opera Sparkles With Young Talent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"From
From the University of Toronto Opera production: Cendrillon at the ball: Chihiro Yasufuku, Jordana Goddard, Kcenia Koutorjevski, Ellita Gagner (Photo: Richard Lu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jules Massenet, Henri Ca\u00efn (libretto): Cendrillon. University of Toronto Opera, Conductor: Sandra Horst Director. Elgin Theatre, March 14, 2024. Repeats March 15, 16 & 17; tickets here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The University of Toronto\u2019s Opera presentation of Jules Massenet\u2019s Cendrillon (Cinderella) this evening was a welcome respite from the challenging times we live in today. There is comfort in revisiting a well-known childhood fairy tale, even in adulthood. Even though we already know the outcome of the story, it is the journey with the characters that we may discover new things, or reconnect with forgotten memories.<\/p>\n

The University of Toronto\u2019s opera program provides singers with the training and experience for their professional careers. Tonight\u2019s performance was a showcase of excellent singing, marvellous dancing, and superb acting. Tonight\u2019s performance was of professional calibre.<\/p>\n

\"University
University of Toronto Opera Undergrad Chorus – the Shoe Line in Cendrillon (Photo: Richard Lu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Story<\/h3>\n

The first act is devoted to getting to know Lucette (Cendrillon). Although she lives in luxury, she is an outcast due to her tyrannical step-mother, Madame de Halti\u00e8re. Even Lucette\u2019s father, Pandolfe, is fearful of her. We get an intimate glimpse into Lucette\u2019s feelings as she sings that she will accept her fate. And, as fate would have it, her Fairy Godmother (La F\u00e9e) appears to grant Lucette\u2019s wish of attending the Royal Ball. She is provided a carriage, attendants, a beautiful white gown, and, of course, glass slippers.<\/p>\n

The second act is when we are first introduced to the Prince (Le Prince Charmant), who is more despondent than charming when we first encounter him. His malaise is not cured by the doctor, but by Lucette at the Royal Ball. There is no mistake when the clock begins to chime, and we feel Lucette\u2019s anxiety of having to leave.<\/p>\n

In the third act, Lucette is comforted by her father. She then seeks the Oak Tree of La F\u00e9e, where the Prince also happens to be. Here, they sing together about their love. The role of the Prince is sung by a soprano falcon. Much of the vocal range is shared by Lucette and the Prince, and, here when they sing together, it is a musical metaphor of the union of their love.<\/p>\n

Lucette awakes in act four, not quite sure if her encounter with the Prince was just a dream. The royal entourage arrives. All the single ladies line up to try on the glass slipper, but it is revealed that Lucette is the owner.<\/p>\n

\"University
University of Toronto\u2019s production Cendrillon: Stepmother & Stepsisters – Kcenia Koutorjevski, Jordana Goddard, Chihiro Yasufuku (Photo: Richard Lu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Production<\/h3>\n

There is no shortage of elements in this production to delight the eyes. Much of the comedy in this opera is physical, performed mostly by the ensemble. The servants quite visibly scurry and shake when Madame is about to appear, and they celebrate with glee when she is finally ousted from the home. The facial expressions, such as side-eye glances and pouty lips, if you\u2019re close enough to seem them, are absolutely delightful.<\/p>\n

The set and lighting are minimal but had great effect, creating a magical atmosphere. The opulence of the Elgin Theatre also added to the enchantment. The progression of the costumes, particularly of Madame and her two daughters, was a travel through fashion history.<\/p>\n

But, above all, it was the singing that was the most captivating. Each singer had clarity in their vocal delivery, and was committed to telling the story. The solo arias were engaging. Ellita Gagner<\/strong> delivered Lucette’s first act aria “Ah! que mes soeurs sont heureuses!” with emotional depth. It was paralleled in the second act by the Lissy Meyerowitz<\/strong>, who portrayed the Prince. Ben Wallace<\/strong>‘s rich baritone voice lent itself well to portray Pandolfe as an authoritative but affectionate father. The tender and touching duet of Lucette (Gagner) and Pandolfe (Wallace) in the third act was nuanced singing at its finest.<\/p>\n

The majority of the roles in Cendrillon are for sopranos and mezzo-sopranos. In the duets and small ensemble singing, all the voices were well balanced. One such exemplary instance was Lucette and the Prince’s duet (A deux genoux) by the Oak Tree sung in unison. Kcenia Koutorjevski<\/strong> and Teresa Tucci<\/strong> relished in their roles as Madame and La F\u00e9e, respectively.<\/p>\n

The chorus was rock solid throughout the whole opera. The a cappella chorus for Lucette’s entrance at the ball was magnificent, and the off-stage singing during the Oak Tree scene added to the dreamlike quality.<\/p>\n

This evening\u2019s performance was a welcome revisit of a childhood favourite story.<\/p>\n

The production is double casted, and will be on the repeated March 15 through 17.<\/p>\n

By Albert Wong for LvT<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The University of Toronto\u2019s Opera presentation of Jules Massenet\u2019s Cendrillon (Cinderella) this evening was a welcome respite from the challenging times.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":115,"featured_media":102475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40967,76,19,43,52],"tags":[41098,41099,9505],"yst_prominent_words":[18736,16331,14182,14180,14183,14186,16264,7549,14176,17398],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-REVIEW-4.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-qEN","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102473"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/115"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102473"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102515,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102473\/revisions\/102515"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102473"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=102473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}