Cinderella (Prokofiev)
C. S. Evans · Public domain
Cinderella (Russian: Золушка, tr. Zolushka; French: Cendrillon) Op. 87, is a ballet composed by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. It is one of his most popular and melodious compositions, and has inspired a great many choreographers since its inception.
- composer
- Sergei Prokofiev
- librettist
- Nikolai Volkov
- premiere_venue
- Bolshoi Theatre
- conductor
- Yuri Fayer
- choreographer
- Rostislav Zakharov
- title_role
- Galina Ulanova
Lore & Background
The story follows Cinderella, a young woman forced into servitude by her stepmother and stepsisters, who attends a ball with the help of her fairy godmother, loses a glass slipper at midnight, and is eventually reunited with the Prince.
Reader's Guide
Cinderella is notable for its jubilant music, lush scenery, and for the comic double-roles of the stepmother and the two stepsisters (which can be performed in travesti), more mad than bad in this treatment. The ballet is scored for a large orchestra and includes a sequence of 34 numbers across three acts. Its enduring popularity stems from Prokofiev's melodic richness and the ballet's adaptability for various choreographers, making it a staple of the classical ballet repertoire.
Did You Know?
- The stepmother and stepsisters are portrayed as more mad than bad, and can be performed in travesti.
- The fairy godmother transforms a pumpkin and mice into a carriage and horses, and grasshoppers and dragonflies into footmen.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cinderella (Prokofiev)?
Cinderella, Op. 87, is a full-length ballet composed by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. Although it sometimes appears in opera and musical-theatre listings, it is a choreographed stage work rather than a sung opera.
Who created the original production of Cinderella (Prokofiev)?
The ballet opened at the Bolshoi Theatre with Rostislav Zakharov as choreographer, Yuri Fayer conducting, and Galina Ulanova dancing the title part. That inaugural cast and staging set the benchmark for how the work has been presented ever since.
What is Cinderella (Prokofiev) famous for musically?
Prokofiev's score is often singled out as one of his most lyrical and immediately accessible, packed with singable melodies that resonate even with listeners unfamiliar with ballet. Its warmth and melodic richness have kept it a mainstay of both concert halls and dance stages.
Why is Cinderella (Prokofiev) important in ballet history?
Since its premiere the work has inspired a remarkable succession of choreographers, each reinterpreting the narrative with fresh movement vocabulary. Its lasting popularity testifies to both the flexibility of Prokofiev's score and the timeless draw of the fairy-tale plot.
How does the story of Cinderella (Prokofiev) end?
Following the classic Perrault framework, Cinderella is recognized at the royal ball and ultimately wins the prince's hand. Prokofiev and Volkov's scenario brings the narrative to a joyful, celebratory close befitting a fairy-tale ballet.
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