La Cenerentola - Cinderella Italian-style
December 17 2007 - January 9 2008
A Festive Fairytale Opera
View the trailer
Listen to the podcast
The Story of La Cenerentola
Cenerentola is cleaning her stepfather Don Magnifico's castle, while her stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisbe, sit bickering. There is a knock at the door; it is Alidoro, Prince Ramiro's tutor, who has come calling, disguised as a beggar. Clorinda and Tisbe are horrified to have such an unsavoury guest, but Cenerentola shows hospitality and gives him some food.
Prince Ramiro is throwing a banquet that evening, where he will choose his future wife. Clorinda and Tisbe have been invited and they are much cheered when the prince's entourage arrive to collect them. But all is not as it seems: the prince and his servant Dandini are disguised as each other, so that the prince might find the woman whom Alidoro has described as the perfect wife. Don Magnifico, however, will not allow Cenerentola to go the banquet, and he tells Don Ramiro and Dandini that this third daughter has died. But Alidoro returns - still in disguise - and takes Cenerentola himself.
Back at the palace, Don Ramiro and Dandini compare notes on Clorinda and Tisbe, unable to understand why Alidoro thinks one of Don Magnifico's daughter would be a suitable match. Clorinda and Tisbe are not too impressed when Dandini offers Prince Ramiro - still in disguise - as a suitable husband, and they are bewildered when someone who looks rather like Cenerentola appears with Alidoro. Cenerentola, meanwhile, becomes thoroughly fed up of being chased by the disguised Dandini, and says that she prefers his servant.
As the evening draws to a close, the real Prince Ramiro reveals himself to Cenerentola; she gives him a bracelet and says that he must come and find her where she lives. Things are back to normal at Don Magnifico's castle. Cenerentola is dressed in rags, working away, when Prince Ramiro's carriage breaks down outside; once he enters the castle to take shelter, he recognises Cenerentola. A happy ending cannot be far away.
View performance dates, cast lists, and buy tickets >
Complete your visit with a food and drink offer >
Watch the trailer
Other Productions: The Nutcracker | Pinocchio |
Tales of Beatrix Potter and Les Patineurs