Photo by Mike Hoban /“La Cenerentola” Glyndebourne Productions Ltd , 2005

タイトルを聞いてすぐにピンと来なくても大丈夫。読み方さえ変えれば、誰もがよく知っているあの物語です。魔法使いのおかげで美しいドレスを着て、カボチャの馬車に乗って……そう、シンデレラのこと。このオペラでは、シンデレラが王子に見初められて妃に迎えられるという基本的なストーリーはそのままに、魔法使いのお婆さんは哲学者に、ガラスの靴は腕輪、というように変更されています。また、途中まで王子と従者とが入れ替わって登場する点も独特です。

Don’t worry if this title doesn’t immediately ring a bell. If you just try to read it in a different pronunciation, yes, everybody should know the story. A girl who wears a beautiful dress and rides on a pumpkin coach, thanks to her Fairy Godmother…you know, it’s Cinderella. In this opera, the main plot that Prince falls in love with Cinderella and marries her is the same as the original story, but the Fairy Godmother is changed into a philosopher, and the glass slipper into a bracelet. Also, it is distinct that Prince disguises as his own valet.

魔法使いが登場しないので、カボチャの馬車は出てきませんが、シンデレラの着る銀色や金色のドレスには注目です。音楽的にも、第1幕のフィナーレや、猛烈に早口で歌われる抱腹絶倒な義父のアリア、そして特に第2幕後半の六重唱など、聴きどころがいっぱい。コミカルなシーンも多く、目と耳を両方楽しませてくれるこの舞台は、グラインドボーンの上演史上でも最高の一夜とまで評されました。

Because the Fairy Godmother does not exist in this version, so does not the pumpkin coach. However, the gold and silver dresses Cinderella wears are really gorgeous enough to look at. Also, in terms of music, there are bunch of wonderful songs, such as the finale of Act I, the fiercely rapid and hilarious aria sung by Cinderella’s stepfather, and the vocal sextet in the latter half of Act II. There are many comical scenes included. It certainly entertains your eyes and ears. This production is raved as one of the best entertaining events in the history of the Glyndebourne festival.