Libretto by Jacopo FERRETTI
Production
- Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège
Last performance at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège : September 2014
The story
Looking for the ideal love, Prince Ramiro tasks his advisor with finding the rare gem. He arrives at the home of the pretentious Don Magnifico who has three daughters, two notorious pests and Angelina, nicknamed Cinderella, who is their servant. However, at the ball it is she, transformed by her beauty and goodness, who seduces the prince…
FROM RAGS TO RICHES
Inspired by a tale that dates back to the dawn of time and which was made famous by Charles Perrault and then the Brothers Grimm, the story of Cinderella has constantly thrilled children and adults alike to the present day.
When Rossini took on the subject in 1817, he immediately rejected including any notion of magic in the tale to make it more human and focus the action. It is said that the librettist Ferretti wrote the synopsis in one single night. The composer, who was used to working quickly, completed the work in scarcely more than 24 days, and it is sublime! La Cenerentola deploys all the facets of Rossini’s purest bel canto.
With this masterpiece, the Swan of Pesaro offers a transitional work, between opera buffa and opera seria, between comedy and tragedy, but he especially invites us to contemplate one of his finest musical and theatrical successes. In this work of incredible depth and deeply moving humanity, goodness triumphs over mediocrity. Its lasting success and timelessness have ensured that it retains an essential place within the operatic repertoire.
Introduction to performances: curtain-raisers
All the opera performances are preceded by an educational introduction open to all. They take place 30 minutes before the start of the performance, in the company of an opera specialist to provide a pertinent presentation of the work.
