1899 Emile Bertrand "Cendrillon" French Opera Poster

Émile Bertrand's (1856-1927) color lithograph poster for Jules Massenet's "Cendrillon," advertising the première performance at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique, Paris in 1899. Bertrand does a wonderful job conveying the ideas of the Cinderella story, while simultaneously imbuing the poster image with Art Nouveau and symbolist motifs. Cinderella's fairy godmother in the image is rendered as a symbolist representation of night. Not certain, however, of the meaning of the bespeckled storks. Dimensions: 31.5”(H) x 23.5”(W).

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Cendrillon (Cinderella) is an opera—described as a "fairy tale"—in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Cain based on Perrault's 1698 version of the Cinderella fairy tale. The scenario was conceived by Massenet and Cain at the Cavendish Hotel while they were in London for the premiere of Le Cid. Premiered in 1899, Massenet began work on the score in 1894 in Pont-de-l'Arche, with the final touches being made in Nice in 1895. At the time of the premiere, Massenet had announced in Le Figaro that Cendrillon would be his last lyric work.

As one of the first operas to be produced at the newly-rebuilt Salle Favart (the third theatre of that name and the home of the Opéra-Comique), it enjoyed the modern facilities provided during the refurbishment, including special effects on stage and electricity throughout the theatre. Massenet took a close interest in the first production, attending 60 out of 98 rehearsals at the Opéra-Comique prior to the premiere. The first performance was given at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 24 May 1899, at the height of Massenet's success. The poster above is from that first performance. As was his usual practice Massenet avoided the first night, but received a telegram from Fugère the next day at Enghien-les-Bains (where he was staying with his wife), recording its triumph.
-Ref: Wikipedia.