Cendrillon

Composer and librettist: Pauline Viardot

Programme note by director, Hélène Montague

Pauline Viardot created her version of Cinderella, a comic opera in three tableaux for seven solo singers, chorus and piano, to her own libretto, and premiered it in April 1904 in her Paris salon when she was 84 years old. Viardot, one of the most celebrated singers of her generation, made her debut as Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello in London in 1839 at 17 years. During her stellar operatic career, she inspired composers like Saint-Saëns and Gounod to write and dedicate roles to her. She studied piano with Franz Liszt and played piano duets with Clara Schumann. As a singer and composer, Pauline Viardot was at the centre of artistic life in Paris in the second half of the nineteenth century. She wrote over 100 songs, including transcriptions of Chopin’s 12 mazurkas, four operettas and her opera Cendrillon.

There are approximately 345 versions of the Cinderella story which have come down to us through a number of storytellers. In the 1600s a Neapolitan storyteller called her Cenerentola, Charles Perrault called her Cendrillon and the Brothers Grimm called her Ashchenputtel. The earliest version of the story dates from 6BC in Greece and there is also a Chinese version dating from 9AD. All of these stories are unified by common themes of an orphan girl who marries a prince and the significance of a very important shoe…

Taking the lead from Viardot’s salon setting, our production of Cendrillon brings a group of performers together in the same space to tell the well-known story with some modern twists and unexpected turns!

  • Cast in order of appearance

    Grandfather Clock: Ceallachán McDonald

    Cendrillon: Aimee Banks

    Prince Charmant: Aidan Atkinson

    Maguelonne (Lonne): Éadaoin Hassett

    Armelinde (Linde): Jacq Herbots

    La Baronne: Kelsie Irving

    La Fée: Alyssa Bonsi

    Barigoule: Lanyi Yan

    Ensemble: Abbey McGiff, Ashton Murphy,
    Beatrice Andreea-Danila, Sarah Van den Heuvel-Mouchot

  • Conductor and Piano: David Adams

    Director: Hélène Montague

    Lighting Design: John Comiskey

    Movement Director: Diane Richardson

    Set Design (Head of Construction): Luke Doyle, Design for Stage and Screen, IADT

    Set Design (Head of Scenic): Kaitlyn Jinks, Design for Stage and Screen, IADT

    Set Designers: James Grant Duggan, Anika O Hagan-Ploug
    Design for Stage and Screen, IADT

    Design Assistants: Amber Ingle, Zuzanna Zurak, Alex Duggan
    Design for Stage and Screen, IADT

    Costume Design: Eva Mahon, Aisling Wallace, Rebecca McConnan, Guia Macapaz,
    Em McLoughlin, Alexander Lappin MacKay, Design for Stage and Screen Year 4, IADT

    Elli Dillon, Oran O’Reilly, Chloe Oppermann, India de Wit, Mia Strain, David Walsh,
    Rebecca Darnell, Katie-Jane Heffernan, Design for Film Year 3, IADT

    Assistant Director: Cian Malin

  • Artistic Producer: Kathleen Tynan, Head of Vocal Studies and Opera, RIAM

    Production Manager: Patrick McLaughlin

    Stage Manager: Gordon Bell

    Assistant Stage Manager: Susan Crawford

    Costume Supervisor: Katherine Michael

    Hair & Make-up Supervisor: Michael Browne

    Production Tutor: Liam Doona for IADT Design for Stage and Screen

    Costume Tutors: Peter O’Brien, Anne O’Mahony for IADT Design for Stage and Screen

    3D Technician: Ian Hannon for IADT

    Chief Electrician: Emily O’Riordan

    Lighting Technicians: Peter Bond, Jenna Crossan, Maeve Talbot, Cathal Bryce

    Dialogue for ‘Cendrillon’: Hélène Montague

    Surtitles for ‘Cendrillon’: Sarah Van den Heuvel-Mouchot

    Surtitle Operators: Tracy Lin Chin, Emilia Russo

    Visual Identity + Poster Design: Niamh Crean, IADT Visual Communication Design

    Programme Design: Adam Kendellen, RIAM Marketing

    Transport: Hanway Piano Movers, Owen Sherwin, Van Go Enterprises

    Production Photography: Mark Stedman

    For RIAM: Mary Brennan, Dearbhla Collins, Imelda Drumm, Owen Gilhooly-Miles, Ciara Higgins, Adam Kendellen, Arif Islam, Deborah Kelleher, Kevin Kelleher, Virginia Kerr, Lynda Lee, Mark Mahoney, Ruth Meehan, Sylvia O’Regan, Sylvia O’Brien, Philip Shields

    For IADT: Clare Barman, Shirley Casey, Alan Farquharson, Ron Hamilton, Pamela Heaney, Paddy Hoyne

    RIAM Opera Angels: Frank and Ivy Bannister, Edward F. Bergman, Brian & Sue Dickie, Dennis Jennings, Deborah Kelleher, Maria Loomes, John Murray.

    THANKS

    Abbey Theatre Costume, Irish National Opera, QLX,
    Samuel Beckett Theatre, Taney Parish Centre

CAST

  • AIMEE BANKS

    Aimee Banks, soprano (Cendrillon), is in Year 4 of the BMus in Performance studying with Kathleen Tynan and Dearbhla Collins.

    Previous Roles for RIAM: Damigella in La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina by Francesca Caccini, May Zambra in Spirits Unsurrendered by Stephen McNeff, Party Guest The Sofa by Elizabeth Maconchy

    Operatic Roles: Amore & Damigella L’incoronazione di Poppea by Monteverdi (Saluzzo Opera Academy), Young Giordano Bruno Heresy by Roger Doyle, Chorus in Macbeth by Verdi (Blackwater Valley Opera Festival)

    Notable Achievements: Ann Murray Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Concert at NCH, Classics at Christmas at Castlemartyr Resort with BVOF, National Famine Commemoration 2020, Launch of the 1916 Commemorations in Dublin’s Convention Centre

    Prizes and Scholarships: Junior Charles Wood International Song Competition 2023, The Irené Sandford Award and Bursary 2022, Dublin Feis Ceoil - Plunket Greene Cup for Interpretation and German Government Cup for Bach Aria, Finalist in the Veronica Dunne Bursary for Young Irish Singers 2023, Birr Lions Club Bursary 2022 (Birr Festival of Music), The Vladimir Piontkovsky Scholarship (Saluzzo Opera Academy) and the Eimear Noonan Music Bursary 2020

    Forthcoming Engagements: UCH Limerick Rising Stars Concert 2024

  • AIDAN ATKINSON

    Aidan Atkinson, tenor (Prince Charmant), is in Year 1 of the MMus in Performance studying with Owen Gilhooly-Miles and David Adams.

    Operatic Roles: Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro

    Notable Engagements: I was a Clerk at Christ Church Cathedral Oxford. I also took part in University productions and vocal groups and was a soloist in Oratoria and choral works, including the St Matthew Passion. While an undergraduate, I also directed the music for Bacchae at the Oxford Playhouse and led choirs and chamber groups. Since graduating, I have been in demand to sing in a wide range of choral productions, on recordings and in operas, including The Marriage of Figaro. A regular member of Oxford’s Arcadian singers and the BBC Chorus of Wales, I have also been engaged by Cathedral choirs both in Ireland and the UK.

  • ÉADAOIN HASSETT

    Éadaoin Hassett, soprano (Maguelonne), is in Year 4 of the BMus in Performance studying with Mary Brennan and Andrew Synnott.

    Previous Roles at RIAM: Sighle Humphries Spirits Unsurrendered by Stephen McNeff, Damigella La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola di Alcina by Francesca Caccini, Chorus The Sofa by Elizabeth Maconchy

    Notable Engagements: Éadaoin recently participated in a Public Masterclass given by Ann Murray DBE in the Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM. Regular choral engagements include mass at Newman University Church and Christ Church Cathedral Dublin. Éadaoin also provides the music for weddings in University Church.

    Prizes and Scholarships: Éadaoin was a finalist in the David Clover Festival of Singing 2024. In the Feis Ceoil 2023, she qualified for the Gervase Elwes Final for her performance of a Bach aria in the German Government Cup. In 2022, Éadaoin was awarded the Vincent O'Brien Memorial Cup, and subsequently a bursary from the Count John McCormack Society.

    Forthcoming Engagements: Éadaoin looks forward to performing the roles of First Niece from Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes and Cherubino from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro in RIAM Opera Snapshots directed by Brenda Hurley later this year.

  • JACQ HERBOTS

    Jacq Herbots, tenor (Armelinde), is in Year 4 of the Bmus Perf studying with Owen Gilhooly and David Adams.

    Previous Roles for RIAM: Debuted as my first main role in January of 2023 in the RIAM’s opera The Sofa by Elizabeth Maconchy in which I played the role of ‘Suitor’. Performed in Francesca Caccini’s opera - La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola di Alcina in which I played an enchanted plant and a Freed Knight.

    Prizes and Scholarships: Performed in the Irené Sandford November 2022 competition in the RIAM where I was awarded ’The Patricia Eberhart Aria Prize’ for best performance of an aria.'

  • KELSIE IRVING

    Kelsie Irving, soprano (Baroness), is in Year 1 of the MMus in Performance studying with Virginia Kerr and Dearbhla Collins.

    Previous Roles for RIAM: (Mrs Stack) Spirits Unsurrendered: RIAM Opera & Then This Theatre

    Operatic Roles: (Die Mutter) Hansel and Gretel: University of Arizona Opera

    Prizes and Scholarships: Third prize Irené Sandford competition RIAM 2023, Third prize Amelia Rieman competition UA 2021, Third prize University of Arizona Concerto Competition 2021, Recipient of the Alice Holsclaw memorial scholarship University of Arizona 2020-2022.

    Forthcoming Engagements: Engagement with RIAM percussion ensemble in NYC performing contemporary works on Saxophone and Voice.

  • ALYSSA BONSI

    Alyssa Bonsi, soprano (La Fée), is in Year 1 of the MMus in Performance studying with Sylvia O'Regan and David Adams

    Operatic Roles: Diana, Orpheus in the Underworld with Fuse (local opera group), 2021, Chorus The Gondoliers with Fuse, 2021, Chorus Hansel and Gretel with Fuse, 2020, Chorus The Mikado with Western University, 2020, Barbarina Le nozze di Figaro with AEDO (Accademia Europea Dell'Opera), 2018

    Prizes and Scholarships: Honourable Mention, OMFA (Ontario Music Festivals Association) in Level 10-Voice, 2021, Classical Vocal Trophy, Kiwanis Music Festival in Kitchener, 2021, Most Promising, NATS Ontario Final Concert, 2020, First Place, NATS Ontario in Adult Advanced Category, 2020

  • LANYI YAN

    Lanyi Yan, soprano (Barigoule), is in Year 2 of the MMus in Performance studying with Sylvia O’Regan and Dearbhla Collins.

    Previous Roles for RIAM: Maura Redmond in Spirits Unsurrendered (2023), Sirena & Damigelle in La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina (2023), Despina in Così fan tutte (2023 Opera Snapshots).

    Notable engagements: Soprano Soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy in C Major and Lechang Chen’s Cantanta Daxue organised by Tianjin Music Hall, China. Recitals within “Music for a While” Summer Concerts Series 2023 held in Tianjin University.

    Prizes and Scholarships: Choral Scholarship in Whitefriar Street Church in 23-24 academic year. Overall Champion of The 9th Voyage of Songs International Chorus Festival in Thailand as a soloist. International Gold Award Winner of The 14th China International Classical Music Festival, Beijing.

    Forthcoming Engagements: Soprano Soloist in China Tour with International Experimental Orchestra in July, 2024. The premiere of Chenyu Sun’s chamber music piece The Collection of the Moon in June, 2024

  • CEALLACHÁN MCDONALD

    Ceallachán Mc Donald, bass (Grandfather Clock), is in first year of the Recital Artist Program studying with Kathleen Tynan and Annalisa Monticelli.

    Previous Roles for RIAM: Oswald in King Arthur by Purcell, Opera Snapshots scenes including Don Alfonso, Cosi fan tutte, and Osmin Die Entführung aus dem Serail

    Notable engagements: Novafeltria 2023 Summer Course under Ubaldo Fabbri.

    Prizes and Scholarships: 2023 Feis Ceoil Bass solo 1st prize and finalist in John McCormack Cup 2023

CREATIVE TEAM

  • HÉLÈNE MONTAGUE - DIRECTOR

    Hélène Montague LTCL FTCL was born in Stockholm and moved to West Cork where she was educated at home with Music as first subject. Both her parents danced with the Royal Swedish Ballet, and she studied dance and theatre from an early age. Moving to Dublin at age 16 she studied piano with Dorothy Stokes and composition with James Wilson. Her first Musical Direction was The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny by Brecht/Weill for Trinity Players. She is a founder member of Rough Magic Theatre Company and has worked frequently with them as an actor, musician, musical director and voice director and has worked widely as a freelance actor and musician for theatre radio tv and film.

    She is a freelance director for opera and theatre and has directed the premiere of Kevin O'Connell's Opera DreamCatchr in 2019 for RIAM which has now been filmed in collaboration with IADT (co-directed with John Comiskey) and has just been screened as part of the Dublin international Film Festival 2024.

    In November/December 2021 she appeared as Music Director in All the Angels by Nick Drake for Rough Magic Theatre Company in Smock Alley Theatre. She co-directed (with John Comiskey) the film of Gráinne Mulvey’s Great Women in the Throne room of Dublin Castle. In July 2022 she was director and dramaturg on the premier production of Slow Recognition, composed by David Bremner. She directed the premiere of Gráinne Mulvey’s SCAM in the ‘Dock’ in Carrick on Shannon with Elizabeth Hilliard as the soprano in November 2022. In April 2023 she directed the premiere of Ailís Ní Ríain’s Refuse to be Wrecked in the Richmond Barracks and a staging of Grainne Mulvey’s Great Women as part of New Music Dublin, also with Elizabeth Hilliard.

    Hélène has been teaching Theatre and Musical Theatre in Inchicore College since 2007, she also teaches acting for singers on the BMus in the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

  • DAVID ADAMS - CONDUCTOR

    David Adams studied organ and harpsichord in Dublin, Freiburg and Amsterdam, winning prizes at international competitions in Speyer, Lüneburg, Bruges and Dublin. Since his début recital at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, at the age of 16, he has performed throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe, and is a regular guest at major international festivals.

    He is much in demand as an ensemble player in the fields of Early and contemporary music and has premiered many new works, including works by Gerald Barry, John Buckley, Raymond Deane, Donnacha Dennehy, Gráinne Mulvey, Jonathan Nangle, Kevin O’Connell, Kevin Volans, Jennifer Walsh, Sebastian Adams and numerous compositions written specially for him. In addition to solo CDs recorded on the organs of Trinity College Dublin and the National Concert Hall in Dublin, he has recorded for Naxos, Black Box and Wergo. Recently he recorded CDs of eighteenth-century Irish music (with Bill Dowdall) and works by Benjamin Dwyer (with Moya Homburger and Barry Guy).

    David has taught at conservatories in Freiburg, Berlin and The Hague, and now lectures in organ and harpsichord at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, where he is also Head of Historical Performance. As part of his work in RIAM he has directed over 20 opera productions since 2007. In 2007, also, he was awarded a PhD from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam for his work on Max Reger and Karl Straube.

  • JOHN COMISKEY – LIGHTING DESIGNER

    John Comiskey has worked extensively in theatre, music, film and television. He has won Best Design at the Irish Theatre awards and has been nominated several times for Best Lighting Design.

    Opera credits as lighting designer include Madama Butterfly (INO); La Boheme, La Voix Humaine, L'Orfeo ( OTC); The Spectre Knight (WFO) and La Finta Giardiniera (RIAM). He curated and designed the first Irish participation at the Prague Quadrennial exhibition of world theatre design.

    Film directing credits include the award-winning Hit and Run and documentaries on the singer Agnes Bernelle (RTE) and the history of Ireland's mental asylums (Misha Productions).

    John has recently completed DreamCatchr, an opera film which premièred at the Dublin International Film Festival in February 2024.

  • DIANE RICHARDSON - MOVEMENT DIRECTOR

    Diana holds an MA in drama and performance studies, graduating from UCD with First Class Honours. She is also a CORU registered physical therapist graduating from the Institute of Physical Therapy and Applied Sciences in 2015 with Distinction.

    She began her dance training at the Irish National College of Dance, Blackrock and further studied in London, New York and Colorado. She has studied both Graham and Cunningham technique and is proficient in Viewpoints movement theories.

    She has worked with the Abbey Theatre Ages of the Moon, Bedrock ,The Skriker and Early Morning, Quarehawks Speaking in tongues and Storytellers Dream of a Summer Day, Dublin Fringe Festival Take Off Your Cornflakes and Glasshouse I Know My Own Heart and Ladies and Gentlemen. Her film work includes Trojan Eddie (Peachtree Productions), I (Sullivan Bluth) and Dental Breakdown (Rocket Productions). Her work in musical theatre is extensive and includes West Side Story, Mack and Mabel, Chorus Line, Cabaret, The Pyjama Game, Chicago, Snoopy – The Musical, La Cage Aux Folles, and Parcels from America.