La Cenerentola

Gioachino Rossini

Running times
7:30 start, 9:05 interval of 15 minutes, finishing at 10:30pm.

Rossini supposedly wrote this gorgeous comic opera in three weeks when aged just 25 years old.  It is his take on the Cinderella story and although it would be wrong to expect glass slippers and pumpkin carriages, it is the tale we know, and is a delight, despite carrying an edge of darkness, even featuring an epic orchestral storm in the second act.

With Cenerentola, as with many of Rossini’s comic operas, we feel on familiar ground; quartets, quintets, sextets, bravura arias and sparkling orchestration. Familiar too are the disguises, mistaken identities, a Prince (most charming in this instance), a Princess, sisters, servants and a happy ending. Every shred of effervescence that is ever squeezed from an operatic score is here but Rossini doesn’t keep it just cute. Cinderella is lifted out of hardship not by a Fairy-Godmother’s wand but by her own goodness, and thus she earns her ticket to the ball.

Search on the web; ‘Non piu Mesta’, ‘Naqui all’affanno’, ‘Come un’ape ne’ giorni d’aprile’. ‘Una volta c’era un re’.

Get involved, @operahollandpk #ohpCenerentola

Cast and Creatives