Event
Opera «La cenerentola»
«La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo» is an operatic gem by Gioachino Rossini, brilliantly reinventing Charles Perrault’s classic tale «Cinderella». The work was a quick solution to the censorship of an earlier project, and Rossini, together with his librettist Jacopo Ferreti, transformed the story: they removed the magic and replaced the wicked stepmother with a despotic stepfather, Don Magnífico.
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In this version, Alidoro, Prince Don Ramiro’s tutor, plays a key role in recognising and promoting the goodness of Angelina, who is looked down on by her vain stepsisters. The plot is woven from deceptions and entanglements that lead to hilarious situations, culminating in an ending where forgiveness and redemption prevail.
Composed in a creative frenzy for the 1817 Rome Carnival, Rossini used his prodigious talent to endow «La Cenerentola» with exceptional vigour, marked by the intense crescendos that characterise his music. The opera debuted in Barcelona in 1818, immediately capturing public admiration for its innovative approach.
«La Cenerentola» combines the sensibility of a traditional operatic heroine with the humour and inventiveness of Rossini’s buffo style. From Angelina’s moving opening aria, «Una volta c’era un re», the work immerses us in a narrative where vocal virtuosity shines amid comedy.
Today, «La Cenerentola» remains a testament to Rossini’s ingenuity, performed on stages around the world with a blend of subtlety, melancholy and a burlesque touch, making every performance a lesson for modern audiences on the triumph of goodness and humanity in opera.
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