San Diego Opera is proud to present Rossini’s La Cenerentola, his opera based on the beloved fairy tale Cinderella that has entertained generations and inspired different versions throughout history from Charles Perrault, The Brothers Grimm, to Walt Disney. La Cenerentola (Cinderella) opens the maintage season at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Saturday, October 22, 2016 for four performances. Additional performances are October 25 and 28 at 7 PM, and October 30 at 2 PM.

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Making important company debuts are American mezzo-soprano Lauren McNeese as Angelina/Cinderella and American tenor David Portillo as Prince Don Ramiro. Returning to the Company after last having been heard as Garcias in Don Quixote in 2014 is American soprano Susannah Biller as Clorinda, Cinderella’s older sister. She is joined by returning Egyptian bass Ashraf Sewailam, last heard as Leporello in 2015’s Don Giovanni, as the philosopher Alidoro. Mexican baritone José Adán Pérez makes his debut as Dandini, the valet to Prince Ramiro and American mezzo soprano Alissa Anderson sings Thisbe, Cindererlla’s younger sister. American conductor Gary Wedow makes his Company debut on the podium and Australian stage director Lindy Hume makes her house debut staging the action.     

Rossini’s version of Cinderella tells the story of an innocent girl, abused by her family, who winds up marrying a handsome prince but faces real dangers along the way. Some things are different from the popular Disney version of the story; Don Magnifico is a wicked stepfather, replacing the wicked stepmother; Alidoro, the philosopher and prince’s tutor, replaces the fairy godmother; and Cinderella’s slipper is replaced by a bracelet. La Cenerentola (Cinderella) will delight audiences from all generations with its arias and ensembles, and stunningly beautiful music from the composer of The Barber of Seville.   

This production of La Cenerentola (Cinderella) is rented from Leipzig Opera and was originally built for Opera Queensland. The set and costume designer is Dan Potro and has been updated to Edwardian England. Matt Marshall is the lighting designer. The opera will be performed in Italian with English translations above the stage. This is the second time La Cenerentola (Cinderella) has been performed by the Company with the other performances occurring in 1996.

La Cenerentola (Cinderella) will have a radio broadcast on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 8 PM on KPBS radio, 89.5 FM (97.7 FM Calexico) and online at www.kpbs.org