Fairy Tale Double Bill: Notes on Viardot & Cinderella

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Must reserve in advance by email matt@buffalooperaunlimited.org

Step into the glittering salons of Paris for an unforgettable evening celebrating one of opera’s most fascinating women, Pauline Viardot. Our captivating double bill pairs Viardot’s enchanting chamber opera Cendrillon (Cinderella) with Michael Ching’s Notes on Viardot, which explores the extraordinary life behind the legendary composer, teacher, and performer.

In Cendrillon, Viardot transforms the beloved Cinderella story into a sparkling jewel of wit, elegance, and irresistible melody. Written in 1904 for performance in her Paris salon, the opera blends French charm, bel canto lyricism, and intimate theatricality into a fairy tale unlike any other — playful, sophisticated, and familiar.

Notes on Viardot is Michael Ching’s vivid and emotionally rich portrait of the composer herself. Told through memories and flashbacks near the end of Viardot’s life, the opera reveals her remarkable journey as an international diva, celebrated teacher, composer, muse, and…