Massenet
Jules Massenet was a magician of melody, creating over thirty operas, two hundred songs and a shimmering trail of oratorios and ballets - each piece stitched as if with silk and sentiment. A child-genius, he entered the Paris Conservatoire at eleven, won the Prix de Rome by twenty and ended up swapping musical secrets with Liszt under the Italian sun. Despite the evolving trends in music and shift towards new styles, Massenet always stayed true to his voice that defined his unique musical style. Though he produced plenty of work, it was Manon that truly left its mark, while it was Werther that hit a deeper nerve, a beautiful written story of love that cannot be tamed. Among his many operas Cendrillon (Cinderella) is known for its fairy-tale charm and tonal palette.
