WWFM Sunday Opera with Michael Kownacky

The Sunday Opera: Massenet's "Cindrillon" from the Theater Freiburg

Every once in a while, one just needs to get lost in a good fairytale, and that’ll be the case on this week’s Sunday Opera (1/8 3:00 p.m.) as we look at a 2018 production of Jules Massenet’s “Cendrillon.”

Based closely on the Perrault original, this Cinderella overcomes the treatment of her stepmother and stepsisters and a treacherous trip to the land of fairies in order to win her prince.

The cast for this performance features Kim-Lillian Strebel in the title role. Her prince is Anat Czarny. Anja Jung is the wicked stepmother Madame de la Haltiere, and she’s joined by Irana Jae Eun Park and Silvia Regazzo as her spoiled daughters Noemie and Dorothee. Juan Orozco sings the role of Cendrillon’s father, Pandolfe, and the Fairy is Katharina Melnikova. Fabrice Bollon conducts the Opera Chorus and extra-Chorus of the Theater Freiburg and the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

After the opera, we’ll have more music about “Cinderella” from composers Eugen D’Albert, Erland von Koch, Eric Coates, and Sergei Prokofiev.

Just to be a little fair, we’ll end the afternoon with some music for another princess with a suite from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty.”

What a better afternoon could there be? Escapist fantasy and happy endings all around!

Michael is program host and host of the WWFM Sunday Opera, Sundays at 3 pm, and co-host of The Dress Circle, Sundays at 7 pm.