La Cenerentola
A kind-hearted young woman, Angelina aka Cinderella, is forced to be a maid in her own home. Her luck seems to turn when a royal bachelor comes looking for a wife, but her stepsisters are determined to keep her in her place.
A familiar fairy tale but La Cenerentola is far more than a simple comic opera. Through one of the most beautiful pieces he ever composed, Rossini takes us on musical and emotional journey with Cinderella - from the naïve girl singing a little ditty ‘Once upon a time there was a king...’ to first her appearance at the ball and the beginning of her rondo where she emerges a queen with the florid vocal lines of a fully-fledged dramatic heroine. With a remarkable palate of musical styles, Rossini shapes Cinderella’s transformation which is not just fantastical but musical too. For his production at the prestigious Rossini in Wildbad festival, Jochen Schönleber has gathered an excellent cast led by Polina Anikina (Angelina) and Patrick Kabongo (Prince Ramiro). For Schönleber, La Cenerentola is above all: ‘the story of a disadvantaged woman who refuses to hate and a Prince, who refuses to play the game of the aristocracy. He wants love, not just wealth. Rehearsals took place in June 2025, when there were repeated reports of the ostentatious wedding in Venice of a super-rich man who was stingy when it came to donating to social causes. I couldn't help thinking about that.’
CAST
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Angelina
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Polina Anikina
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Prince Ramiro
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Patrick Kabongo
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Alidoro
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Dogukan Özkan
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Don Magnifico
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Filippo Morace
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Dandini
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Emmanuel Franco
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Clorinda
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Ellada Koller
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Tisbe
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Verena Kronbichler
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Orchestra
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Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra
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Chorus
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Kraków Philharmonic Chorus
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Music
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Gioachino Rossini
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Text
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Jacopo Ferretti
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Director, sets, lights
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Jochen Schönleber
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Conductor
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José Miguel Pérez-Sierra
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Costumes
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Claudia Möbius
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VIDEOS
STORY
Act I
Sinfonia. A poor man predicts Angelina's future with love. But he is mistreated and chased away by a group of thugs.
Introduzione. In the half-ruined house of Baron Don Magnifico, his daughters Clorinda and Tisbe flirt in front of the mirror and tease their stepsister Angelina-Cinderella, who is kept as a maid and sings her song about the king: He has three brides to choose from and he chooses kindness. Angelina is chased away and threatened with beatings.
Alidoro, disguised as a beggar, asks for alms. The sisters chase him away, but Cinderella secretly helps him and gives him food.
The courtiers arrive and invite everyone to a party at the castle, as the Prince is looking for a wife.
Aria Don Magnifico. Don Magnifico, awakened by the noise, interprets his dream of the flying donkey as a symbol of the family's social advancement.
He has illegally used Angelina's inheritance to set up his two daughters and needs more money.
Duettino Ramiro Cenerentola. Prince Ramiro appears disguised as a servant to better explore the hearts of women.
The chance encounter with Cinderella is love at first sight for both of them.
Aria Dandini. The servant Dandini, disguised as a prince, appears with his entourage and is courted by Don Magnifico and his two daughters.
Quintetto. Cinderella wants to go to the castle, but her stepfather threatens to kill her.
Alidoro appears as a gentleman and asks about the third daughter, but Magnifico says she is dead.
Everyone is stunned and in doubt.
Recitativo ed Aria Alidoro. Left alone, the downcast Cinderella receives another visit from Alidoro in beggar's outfit. But soon he takes off his beggar's cloak. He has a beautiful dress for her and will take her to the castle.
Recitativo. There, the false prince Dandini flatters the Baron with the appointment as cellar master.
Aria con coro Don Magnifico. Magnifico appears drunk, and the courtiers are indignant.
Finale. Ramiro wants details from Dandini. Together they expose the arrogance of the two daughters.
The arrival of a veiled lady in a magnificent dress, who resembles Cinderella, causes a commotion.
Act II
Recitativo. The courtiers mock the baron and his two daughters.
Aria Don Magnifico. Don Magnifico already sees himself as the Prince's influential father-in-law. The unknown woman confesses her love to the ‘servant’ and leaves him a bracelet. He is to find her again and decide whether he really wants her. Alidoro, now posing as the Prince's wise tutor, advises him to follow his heart.
Recitativo scena ed Aria Don Ramiro. Ramiro ends the masquerade and Dandini's role as prince. He sets off with his companions in search of the unknown woman.
Recitativo e Duetto Dandini Magnifico. Meanwhile, Dandini reveals the secret of his disguise to Magnifico and throws him out of the castle.
Canzone. Cinderella, back in her rags by the fireplace, dreams of her beloved ‘servant’ and sings the song of the searching king.
Recitativo e temporale. Magnifico and his daughters come home and take their anger out on Cinderella.
A thunderstorm reveals the dilapidated state of the household.
Sestetto. Alidoro has arranged for the Prince's carriage to overturn at Magnifico's palace. When Ramiro enters, he recognises the poor Cinderella as the unknown woman, and Angelina realises that the servant is in fact a prince. The two bracelets fit together.
Everyone present feels caught up in an inextricable tangle.
Recitativo. Alidoro gives Clorinda and Tisbe the choice between poverty and asking for forgiveness.
Coro, scena e rondò finale. Cinderella ascends the throne. Everyone praises her effusively. But she only wants love. She shakes off her past suffering and forgives her tormentors.
After a Synopsis by Reto Müller
Gallery
