Cinderella

La Cenerentola
Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Jacopo Ferretti

The road to happily ever after is fraught with chaos and hijinks! Our spunky heroine goes from rags to riches in the story that shows that love conquers all. See how Cinderella defies her evil stepfather and mean-girl stepsisters to win the heart of Prince Charming.

Approximate run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission
Sung in Italian with English captions

Orchestra Sponsor – The Arthur J. and Mary Celeste Lerman Fund

Friday, February 24 8pm
Sunday, February 26 2pm

The W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre

Families with children are encouraged to consider the length of the performance when deciding to attend. Student rates are available, and per regulations set by Kentucky Performing Arts, lap seating is not permitted.

Cinderella at the W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre in Louisville KY, February 24 & 26. Kentucky Opera schedule & tickets.
Cinderella at the W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre in Louisville KY, February 24 & 26. Kentucky Opera schedule & tickets.
Joseph Mechavich, conductor
Conductor

Joseph Mechavich

Brenna Corner
Director

Brenna Corner

Cast

Taylor Raven
Angelina (Cinderella)

Taylor Raven

Welch Family Endowed Artist
David Walton
Don ramiro

David Walton

Dandini

Armando Contreras

Hidenori Inoue
Don magnifico

Hidenori Inoue

Victoria Okafor, soprano
clorinda

Victoria Okafor

sandford studio artist
Georgia Jacobson
Thisbe

Georgia Jacobson

sandford studio artist
Jason Zacher
Alidoro

Jason Zacher

sandford studio artist

Creative Team

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Set designer

Tony Fanning

Connie Yun
Lighting designer

Connie Yun

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Costume designer

Glenn A. Breed

Cass Brake
Hair & Makeup Designer

Cass Brake

Kate Winegarden
Properties Coordinator

Kate Winegarden

Peter Nictakis
Production stage manager

Peter Nictakis

Synopsis

Act I

Alidoro begins to write his memoirs telling the true story of Cinderella.

Clorinda and Thisbe, daughters of Don Magnifico, are in the middle of their morning ablutions and usual arguments. Their stepsister Angelina, called Cenerentola, serves as the family maid. As she cleans, she sings her favorite story, about a king who finds true love with a peasant girl. Alidoro, tutor to the prince Don Ramiro, enters, dressed as a beggar, to test the kindness of the sisters. The stepsisters disgusted, send him away, but Cenerentola gives him bread and coffee. Courtiers announce that Ramiro will soon pay a visit: he is looking for the most beautiful girl in the land and will hold ball to choose his bride. Magnifico hopes that it will be one his daughters. He knows marriage to a wealthy man is the only way to save his fortune. When everybody has left to prepare for the prince’s arrival, Ramiro enters alone, dressed in his servant’s clothes so he can freely observe the prospective brides. Cenerentola returns, startled by Ramiro. The two are immediately attracted to each other. When asking who she is, Cenerentola in a confused state, tries to explain but runs away. Finally, the “prince” arrives – who is actually Ramiro’s valet, Dandini, in disguise. Magnifico, Clorinda, and Thisbe fall over themselves flattering him, and he invites them to the ball. Cenerentola asks to go to the ball but Magnifico refuses. Ramiro notes how Magnifico treats Cenerentola. Alidoro reminds them there should be a third sister in the house, but Magnifico claims she has died. Left alone with Cenerentola, Alidoro tells her he will take her to the ball and explains that God will reward her for her good heart.

Dandini shares his negative opinion of the two sisters with the prince. But both men are confused, since Alidoro has spoken well of one of Magnifico’s daughters. Clorinda and Thisbe appear again, following Dandini, who still pretends to be the prince. Dandini then offers Ramiro as a husband to the sister that he, the prince, does not marry. The sisters are outraged at the idea of marrying a servant. Alidoro enters with a beautiful unknown lady who, strangely, resembles Cenerentola. Unable to make sense of the situation, they all sit down to supper, feeling as if in a dream.

Act II

Cenerentola, tired of being pursued by Dandini, tells him that she is in love with his servant. Overhearing this, Ramiro is overjoyed and steps forward. Cenerentola, however, tells him that she will return home and does not want him to follow her. If he really cares for her, she says, he will find her. The prince resolves to win the mysterious girl.

Meanwhile Magnifico fears that the arrival of the stranger could ruin his daughters’ chances to marry the prince. Magnifico, who still thinks that Dandini is the prince, confronts him, insisting that he decide which of his daughters he will marry. When Dandini reveals that he is in fact the prince’s servant, Magnifico is furious.

Magnifico and the sisters return home in a bad mood and order Cenerentola, again in rags, to prepare supper. During a thunderstorm Ramiro’s carriage breaks down in front of Magnifico’s mansion so that the prince has to take refuge inside. Cenerentola and Ramiro recognize each other, as everybody comments on the situation. Ramiro threatens Magnifico and his daughters, who are unwilling to accept defeat, but Cenerentola asks him to forgive them.

At the prince’s palace, Ramiro and Cenerentola celebrate their wedding. Magnifico tries to win the favor of the new princess, and she asks only to be acknowledged at last as his daughter. Born to misfortune, she has seen her life change and declares that the days of sitting by the fire are over.