Peter Maxwell Davies

Cinderella

This short opera (duration of 50 minutes), aptly designed for children to perform with modest resources, is a version of the familiar tale, though with certain adaptations. Musically the piece is a bright sequence of little songs, choruses, dialogue scenes and dances, probably best suited to children between the ages of eight and twelve, though the parts of the ugly sisters can usefully be taken by boys with broken voices. The music is scored for an orchestra of recorders, trumpet, percussion, strings and keyboard, and ranges through a variety of styles. The opera has eleven solo parts and a chorus who act as a train, ball guests and the magic kittens. It is also suitable for performance by children aged eight and upwards.