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CULTURE 14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 JUNE 2018 I stood, up until I researched for this article, with the major- ity of the Maltese who are fa- miliar with Nicolo Isouard as a Maltese composer and that he had written some sort of opera, which is not much. But there is a reason why our knowledge of him is so limited. The truth of the matter is that most people do not know much about him, because although he was on the cusp of tasting the sweet flavours of success with his "masterpiece" opera Cendril- lon (Cinderella) at the beginning of the 19th century, its popu- larity was eclipsed by an opera by his contemporary Rossini, which not only had the same name – La Cerentola – but even used the same libretto. Rossini's opera, however, was surfing the new waves on a board named Bel Canto, a lyrical style that music lovers have never stopped sup- porting and which left its mark on the repertoire of the major opera houses around the world. "[Cendrillon] was considered one of the best comic operas of the time, written by a young composer from Malta. It seems inconceivable that the opera was to fall into oblivion for more than two centuries," laments Jean- Philippe Desrousseaux, who is directing the opera, which is be- ing given its deserved attention at Teatru Manoel at the end of June. Isouard's opera went unnoticed for some two hundred years and it was not until 1999 that the Australian conductor Richard Bonynge, a fervent champion of French music, took an interest in Cendrillon which hides musical treasures on every page, and pre- sented it in Moscow with a live recording to enable the public to rediscover a work that deserves a major place in French opera repertoire. The opera is making its way to the birthplace of its composer thanks to Teatru Manoel's Ar- tistic Director Kenneth Zam- mit Tabona. He explains how as Artistic Director he had been receiving quite a few requests to put up an opera. To do so, of course, requires money. Zam- mit Tabona worked his funding- sourcing skills extra hard, know- ing that he had added clout given that it was not only the 100th an- niversary since Isouard's death but also because of the fact that Malta is Capital of Culture this year. It was thanks to a consortium of French settlers in Malta who came together and have joined forces to fund this opera that Cendrillon will finally see the light of day on the island. "My job," he explains "was finding the right element of putting them to- gether and having a profession- ally produced opera by Isouard at the Manoel". Zammit Tabona wanted to keep the Maltese links strong and was adamant to in- clude as many Maltese perform- ers as is humanly possible, and this is why the opera stars Claire Debono, a professional singer based in France. While Isouard was born in Malta, he left the island, and moved to Paris, but as Zammit Tabona points out, there are still descendants in Malta, whom he hopes will at- tend the opera. Speaking of Maltese links, Zammit Tabona believes that "we have always identified with Isouard, without knowing why". It was thus high time for Malta to have an opera by him, espe- cially with Malta being capital of culture. Zammit Tabona con- fides how he had always dreamt of having this opera and hopes to be able to put up an opera of his every year. Desrousseaux is familiar with the Manoel Theatre, having put up ATYS En Folie, a satirical puppet show at the 2017 edition of the International Baroque Festival as well as the parody of Rameau's Hypolite et Aricie in 2014. Both were presented by Centre Musique Baroque de Versailles. He will bring his won- derful sense of humour to this comic opera too, for one part thanks to his giving it a 1960s slant. In his words: "Cinderella illus- trates the conflict of universal force of forgiveness, surpassing oneself and inducing the re- demption of the characters who mistreated it perfectly and uses the elements of the drama devel- oping towards an image of ideal happiness. The trials of this con- quest of bliss are mainly marked by the behaviour of Cinderella's sisters with their aggressive and jealous behaviour. This suppos- edly dark aspect will scenically generate the funniest and most hilarious parts of the staging. "Beauty, purity, blackmail, daydreams, magical effects, con- frontations and rivalry, benevo- lence, contrasting emotions, love and happiness, all of this will be expressed by a staging that will maintain a smile throughout." Nicolo Isouard's Cendrillon will be produced at Teatru Manoel, Valletta on the 28 and 30 June 2018 - www.teatrumanoel.com.mt Rediscovering the lost slipper Maltese composer Nicolo Isouard's masterpiece comic opera Cendrillon is finally being given the attention it deserves. Veronica Stivala reveals why so few Maltese know anything about one of our national treasures It was thanks to a consortium of French settlers in Malta who came together and joined forces to fund this opera that Cendrillon will f inally see the light of day on the island It seems inconceivable that the opera was to fall into oblivion for more than two centuries