L'enfant et les sortilèges facts for kids
Quick facts for kids L'enfant et les sortilèges |
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| by Maurice Ravel | |
Marie-Thérèse Gauley as the Child in 1926
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| Librettist | Colette |
| Language | French |
| Premiere | 21 March 1925: Monte Carlo Opera |
L'enfant et les sortilèges (which means The Child and the Spells) is a short opera by the French composer Maurice Ravel. An opera is like a play where the story is told mostly through singing, with music played by an orchestra. This opera is about a naughty child who gets into trouble and learns an important lesson.
Ravel wrote the music, and the story (called the libretto) was written by a famous French writer named Colette. It was first performed in Monte Carlo in 1925.
Contents
What is The Child and the Spells About?
This opera tells the story of a young child who is very disobedient. The child refuses to do homework, is rude to others, and breaks things. Because of this bad behavior, the child's mother locks them in their room.
Suddenly, the objects in the room and the creatures outside come to life! They are angry at the child for all the damage and disrespect.
Magical Revenge
The furniture, clocks, and even the teacups start to complain about how the child has treated them. A teapot and a teacup sing a funny duet. The numbers from the arithmetic book dance around, showing how much the child hates math.
Outside the window, animals and plants also join in. They are upset because the child has hurt them in the garden. A squirrel complains about being trapped, and a tree talks about being cut.
A Change of Heart
The child feels scared and alone as all these magical creatures turn against them. But then, a small squirrel gets hurt during the chaos. The child, forgetting their own fear, helps the injured squirrel.
This act of kindness changes everything. The animals and objects are surprised and touched by the child's compassion. They realize the child isn't completely bad.
The Lesson Learned
The opera ends with the child calling out for their mother. The creatures help the child find their way back home, showing that even after being naughty, kindness can lead to forgiveness and understanding. It's a story about learning empathy and the consequences of our actions.
How the Opera Was Created
The idea for L'enfant et les sortilèges came from the famous writer Colette. She was asked to write a story that could be turned into a musical work. Colette wrote the entire story in just eight days!
Many composers wanted to work with Colette, but she was most excited about working with Maurice Ravel. She felt his music would be perfect for her magical story. Ravel worked on the music for several years, from 1917 to 1925, to bring Colette's vision to life.
Characters in the Opera
The main character is the Child. The opera also features many interesting characters who are objects or animals that come to life. These include:
- The Armchair and the Sofa
- The Grandfather Clock
- The Teapot and the Teacup
- The Fire
- The Princess (from a storybook)
- The Shepherd and Shepherdess (from a wallpaper)
- The Cat and the Female Cat
- The Squirrel, the Frog, the Dragonfly, and the Bat
- The Tree and the Owl
Each character has their own unique music and personality, making the opera very lively and imaginative.
See also
- In Spanish: El niño y los sortilegios para niños
