Massenet - The Grasshopper and the Ants / La Cigale et la Fourmi (reference recording : R.Bonynge)

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Jules Massenet (1842-1912) The Grasshopper / La Cigale : Ballet en 2 Actes A delicious french Ballet. La Fontaine’s fable « La Cigale et la Fourmi / The Grasshopper and the Ant ». Act 1 The curtain rises on the interior of a rustic cottage (Ouverture 05:35). Cigale is asleep (Cigale Dort 06:27). As a cuckoo-clock strikes six, she arranges her hair, and, taking her mirror, dances round the room admiring herself (Le Réveil et La toilette de la Cigale 09:34). She mixes a cake and puts it in the oven. A young beggar-girl is led in by two little grasshoppers (La Pauvrette 11:25). Cigale gives her her cloak, the bread and milk she was about to have for breakfast, a bonnet and a red umbrella, and the little grasshoppers persuade her to dance with them (La Ronde des Cigales 13:38). As the beggar-girl goes, Cigale empties her purse into her apron. This act of generosity has been observed by Madame Fourmi, who mocks Cigale for taking pity on such ungraceful wretches (Madame Fourmi 16:41). Church bells are heard, and Madame Fourmi is departing when she smells the cake cooking in the oven. She is so ecstatic that Cigale gives her the cake, even though she has nothing left herself but a glass of water and a crust. A bank-clerk enters (Le Garçon de Banque 20:29) and presents Cigale with a bill of her debts. But Cigale understands nothing of such things, and tears the bill in two to make curling-papers. She is now ready to receive her lover (Le Petit Ami 23:17). At first unwilling, she gradually yields to his advances and gives him her kiss of love (Le Divin Baiser 24:24). Act 2 An interlude (27:29) - an old Christmas carol - separates the first at from the second. On a midwinter’s night, warmly wrapped in her cloak, Madame Fourmi returns home from midnight mass (La Messe de Minuit 30:20). She has no sooner shut her door than Cigale appears, unprotected from her door than Cigale appears, unprotected from the cold except by a thin black shawl. She begs the gusting wind and eddying snow to spare her (Valse : Tourbillon des Autans 31:36). Then, gathering new courage she knocks on Madame Fourmi’s door, and take her guitar and plays a series of variations on the old air, ‘Au clair de la lune’ (Thème Populaire : Au Clair de la lune Variations 34:55) with its request ‘ouvre-moi la porte’ / open the door (37:36). Madame Fourmi puts her head out the window and brusquely tells her to go about her business; then, when continues to ask for shelter, takes a broom and tries to chase her away. There is worse to come. A courting couple enters, and Cigale recognises her own Petit Ami and the beggar-girl. They dance (Danse des Amoureux 38:40) beneath the red umbrella, and the beggar-girl is wearing Cigale’s bonnet. Crushed and dismayed, Cigale sinks to the ground. Snowflakes cover her as she dies, still clinging to her last possession, her guitar (La Mort de Cigale 41:10). There is a clap of thunder (42:45), and angels are seen surrounding Cigale’s body (42:51). An invisible choir sings a lubally (Berceuse Angélique 42:51). Cigale awakes, and the ballet ends as the angels draw her gently into their midst (44:28)… Jeremy Commons Introduction to the ballet / Classical Music Ref. Recording Selection (00:00) Act 1 I.Ouverture / Cigale dort (05:35 ; 06:27) II.Le reveil et la toilette de la Cigale(09:34) III.La Pauvrette (11:25) IV.La Ronde des Cigales (13:38) V.Madame Fourmi(16:41) VI.Garçon de banque(20:29) VII.Le Petit Ami (23:17) VIII.Le Divin Baiser (24:24) Act 2 I.Interlude (27:29) II.Messe de Minuit (30:20) III.Valse : Tourbillon des Autans (31:36) IV.Thème Populaire : Au Clair de la lune Variations (34:55) V.Ouvre moi la Porte (37:36) VI.Danse des Amoureux(38:40) VII.Mort de Cigale (41:10) VIII.Berceuse Angélique (42:51) National Philharmonic Orchestra Mezzo Soprano : Enid Hartle Richard Bonynge Stéréo recording in 1978, at London Label : Decca