''Cendrillon'' (; en, Cinderella) is a French opera in three acts by the

Maltese Maltese may refer to: * Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta * Maltese alphabet * Maltese cuisine * Maltese culture * Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people * Maltese people, people from Malta or of Malte ...

-born composer Nicolas Isouard. It takes the form of an ''

opéra comique ''Opéra comique'' (; plural: ''opéras comiques'') is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged from the popular '' opéras comiques en vaudevilles'' of the Fair Theatres of St Germain and St Laurent (and to a l ...

'' with spoken dialogue between the musical numbers, although its authors designated it an '' opéra féerie''. The libretto, by Charles-Guillaume Étienne, is based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale ''

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

''. The work was first performed by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Feydeau in Paris on 22 February 1810. ''Cendrillon'' was a success throughout Europe until its popularity was eclipsed by that of Rossini's opera on the Cinderella theme, ''

La Cenerentola ' (''Cinderella, or Goodness Triumphant'') is an operatic '' dramma giocoso'' in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, based on the libretti written by Charles-Guillaume Étienne for the opera ''Cendrillo ...

'' (1817).

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

Cendrillon is the stepdaughter of Baron Montefiascone. She lives in his house with his daughters, Clorinde and Thisbé, where she is treated like a servant. The two sisters are preparing for the royal ball when a beggar arrives asking for hospitality. Cendrillon welcomes him but the sisters drive him away, not realising he is Alidor, the Prince