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Massenet's version of the Cinderella story is full of beautiful music and by no means for children alone (look, I was tearing up the first time I saw it and it was just a student production).
You know the tale: sad neglected girl dreams of going to the royal ball - she's not looking for love, the poor thing just wants to get out of the house! Her Fairy Godmother hears her! Magic transforms her rags into a beautiful ball gown... there’ll be a lost slipper, an enchanted wall of flowers and plenty of drama along the way as the Fairy intervenes to bring The Prince and Cendrillon together against all odds.
Each bead and charm of the Cendrillon Opera Bracelet represents a character or moment from Massenet’s work. Some of the most important beads and charms are described below and you can see all of the symbolic descriptions on the spiral chart photo above or to the left. Also, a story chart explaining the symbolism of the beads and charms accompanies every bracelet. Click here to see the chart.
- Grey, ivory and pink pearls represent Madame de la Haltière and her daughters. A faceted purple bead is the hard put upon Pandolfe. A blue glass bead indicates Pandolfe’s sadness at leaving Cendrillon behind while the rest of the family goes to the ball.
- I chose a round clear crystal for Cendrillon symbolizing her higher destiny. The fairy is a blue iridescent bi-cone crystal a magic wand indicates her power. Tiny glass stars and insect beads evoke the magic spells required to get Cendrillon to the ball (magic coach charm).
- A gold bead represents the Prince, while a darker gold bead is his father the King. A pink glass heart is the Prince's desire to marry for love, while a flowered heart symbolizes the blossoming of love in the hearts of the Prince and Cendrillon.
- Twelve tiny pearls represent the clock striking twelve.
- Glass leaves and flowers with a flowered heart charm are the fairy’s magical arbor separating the lovers at the Fairy Oak (tree charm).
- A black disc is the period of unconsciousness Cendrillon experiences after the magical night. The blue heart indicates the deep depression the Prince experiences when he cannot find Cendrillon after the magical night at the arbor.
- The fairy sets everything to rights uniting the Prince and Lucette through her shoe (shoe charm).
- A charm represents the Prince’s Castle and a swirly heart bead evokes their joy!
