Cinderella, or Triumph of Virtue ( Italian: La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo ) is a comic opera ( dramma giocoso ) in two acts by the Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini . Italian libretto by Jacopo Ferretti based on the traditional Cinderella fairy tale. The premiere took place on January 25, 1817 in Rome at the Valle Theater.
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| Cinderella, or Triumph of Virtue | |
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| First Place | Rome |
This opera was written by Rossini in the wake of the success of the Barber of Seville in record time - in 24 days. He used for the opera an overture from his own opera The Newspaper , which by that time was already popular and performed as an independent work. Rossini also used some materials from the Barber of Seville in the opera. Some recitatives and three arias were written by Luca Agolini. In the years 1818-1820, when publishing the score, Rossini introduced amendments (replaced one of Agolini’s arias with his own and added one more number).
Actors
| The consignment | Vote | Artist at the premiere January 25, 1817 (Conductor: Joacchino Rossini) |
|---|---|---|
| Angelina (Cinderella) | color mezzo-soprano | Jeltrude Righetti |
| Ramiro, Prince of Salerno | tenor | Giacomo Guglielmi |
| Dandini, his valet | baritone | Giuseppe de Benis |
| Don Magnifico, Baron di Montefiascone, Angelina's stepfather | bass | Andrea Verni |
| Alidoro, philosopher and mentor of the prince | bass | Zenobio Vitarelli |
| Clorinda, the eldest daughter of Don Magnifico | soprano | Katerina Rossi |
| Tisba, the youngest daughter of Don Magnifico | mezzo soprano | Theresa Mariani |
| Courtiers of Prince Ramiro | ||
Libretto
Act One
Scene One. Palace of Don Magnifico
The daughters of the owner of the house, Clorinda and Teesb, sort out jewelry and chat among themselves. Angelina, stepdaughter of Magnifico appears. She is in a maid’s dress and is cleaning the house. Angelina sings a ballad about a king who married a peasant woman. The sisters make fun of her. A beggar enters the house and asks for alms. The sisters want to kick him out, but Angelina seats the old man and gives him bread and coffee. The choir reports that Prince Ramiro is looking for the most beautiful girl in his possessions to marry her, and in his search he will soon visit the Manifico Palace. The sisters begin to prepare for the reception of the prince, making plans for him. A beggar in an undertone ridicules them and leaves. Don Magnifico enters. The sisters inform him of the arrival of the prince. Father and his daughters leave to change clothes to receive a guest. They order Angelina to prepare a treat. Prince Ramiro enters. He changed into the dress of his valet Dandini to watch the brides from the side. He sent forward his mentor Alidoro, who, having disguised himself as a beggar, had already managed to observe and form an idea of the inhabitants of this house. Angelina enters with a tray. Ramiro appears to be the prince's valet. Angelina tells her story: she is an orphan, lives in her stepfather’s house, which forces her to do all the housework. Ramiro is fascinated by Angelina, she also liked the young man, but the owner calls her, and she leaves. Don Magnifico enters. Ramiro says the prince will be here now. Indeed, the courtiers solemnly enter the hall, who surround the valet Dandini, dressed as a prince. Dandini welcomes the owner of the house. Don Magnifico, Clorinda, and Teesba lavish compliments on the imaginary prince. Only Angelina is dejected by the vulgarity of the manners of this prince. Dandini invites the owner of the house with his daughters to the palace. The sisters are thrilled. Angelina asks her stepfather to take her, but they are categorically against it - she will stay at home and will do household chores. Alidoro appears no longer in a beggar costume, but in a court dress. He wonders why Magnifico does not take his third daughter with him. Magnifiko is outraged - Angelina is not his daughter, but his stepdaughter - the daughter of his second wife from his first marriage, a dowager who does not have her own state and lives with him out of mercy. Alidoro is left alone with Angelina. He is fascinated by the beauty and kindness of the girl, believes that with her the prince will find his happiness. Alidoro takes care of Angelina and takes her with him to the palace. At this time, Dandini paints Don Magnifico the virtues of his wine cellar. Magnifico is pleased; he loves a drink. The prince asks Dandini to talk with his daughters to find out their character. Dandini takes care of Clorinda and Tisboy, makes vulgar jokes, but they are ready to listen to anything from the prince, just to gain his favor.
Scene two. Palace of Prince Ramiro
The tipsy Don Manifiko disposes in the palace as at home. He sings a funny song. The prince is struck by the vulgarity and commercialism of the daughters of Magnifico. He is perplexed, because his mentor Alidoro spoke of one of his daughters as the embodiment of nobility and kindness. He decides to try Clorinda and Tisbu again. Dandini offers them as a gentleman Prince Ramiro. But, thinking that this is a valet, the sisters indignantly refuse. Alidoro enters. He brought a mysterious noble beauty in a luxurious outfit. Angelina enters. Everything is confused. She looks so much like stepdaughter Magnifiko. But the baron and the sisters calm themselves - this lady in such a rich outfit cannot be poor Angelina.
Act Two
Scene One. Palace of Prince Ramiro
The sisters complain to their father that Dandini, whom they mistake for the prince, left them and looks after a beautiful stranger. But Magnifico no longer perceives their complaints, he is only interested in new wines from the cellar of the prince. Ramiro, who recognized Angelina, asks Dandini to propose to her as a prince. But Angelina refuses him. She loves Ramiro, whom she considers a valet. Ramiro is delighted with Angelina's loyalty and selflessness. He confesses her love. Angelina also loves him. But he will marry him only when he finds out who she is. With these words, Angelina takes one of two identical bracelets from her hand, gives Ramiro and leaves. The prince swears to find her. Alidoro gives Dandini a signal to end the rally. Don Magnifico assures that his daughters fell in love with the prince and asks to expedite the wedding with any of them. Dandini admits to Don Magnifico that he was played - he is not a prince, but a valet. The baron in horror leaves the palace of the prince. Alidoro is pleased - the greedy baron has learned a good lesson.
Scene two. Palace of Don Magnifico
Angelina again in the old dress cleans the room and sings her ballad about the king. Angry Don Magnifico and his daughters are returning. A thunderstorm begins. Suddenly Dandini enters. He claims that bad weather found the prince near the house of Magnifico, and now the prince will be here. Ramiro enters, now under his real name. The baron bows to him. The sisters order Angelina to serve dinner. Angelina tries to cover her face with her hands, but Ramiro sees a familiar bracelet on her hand - the same as his. Baron and daughters try to drive Angelina away, but the prince stops them. He fulfilled the condition - found out who such a beautiful stranger is, and now asks her to become his wife. Angelina agrees. Alidoro talks about the difficult fate and the golden heart of Angelina. She asks the prince to forgive her stepfather and sisters. The prince generously agrees. Everyone is happily having fun.
Discography
- Rossini Cinderella. F. Barbieri, J. Del Signoret, A. Poli, V. de Taranto. Conductor O.de Fabrtiis / 1948
- Rossini Cinderella. J. Simionato, C. Valletti, S. Meletti, C. Dalamangas, V. Suska. Conductor M.Rossi / RAI Torino 09/18/1949 / FONIT CETRA
- Rossini Cinderella. Zara Dolukhanova , K. Konstantinova, N. Postavnicheva, A. Orfenov, E. Belov, K. Polaev. Conductor O. Bron / MYTO 1950
- Rossini Cinderella. J. Simionato, W. Benelli, P. Montarsolo, S. Bruscantini. Conductor O. de Fabritiis / DECCA 1964
- Rossini Cinderella. Theres Bergans , S. Cerven, P. Bottazzo, R. Capecki, P. Montarsolo, C. Grant. Conductor C. Makerras / San Francisco 11/16/1969
- Rossini Cinderella. Teresa Bergans , M. Guglielmi, L. Alva, R. Kapekki, P. Montarsolo. Conductor C. Abbado / DG 1971
- Rossini Cinderella. F. background Stade, W. Benelli, R. Capecchi, P. Montarsolo. Conductor J. Pritchard / San Francisco 11/11/1974
- Rossini Cinderella. L. Valentini-Terrani, F. Araisa, D. Trimarki, E. Dara, A. Corbelli. Conductor G. Ferro / SONY 1980
- Rossini Cinderella. A. Balts, S. Graham, R. Blake, T. Nolen, K. Desderi. Conductor G. Ferro / Chicago 10/26/1982
- Rossini Cinderella. A. Balts, F. Arais, Ruggiero Raymondi . Conductor N. Marriner / DECCA 1987
- Rossini Cinderella. Cecilia Bartoli , G. Banditelli, V. Matteuzzi, A. Corbelli, E. Dara, M. Pertuzi. Conductor R. Shayi / DECCA 1992
- Rossini Cinderella. J. Larmor, A. Scarabelli, L. Polverelli, R. Jimenez, J. Quilico, A. Corbelli, A. Miles. Conductor C. Rizzi / TELDEC 1994
- Rossini Cinderella. V.Kazarova, R. Savoy, M.Comparato, H.D. Flores, A.Corbelli, B. Pratico, L. Regazzo. Conductor C. Rizzi / Pesaro, August 1998
- Rossini Cinderella. J.Di Donato, J. Fisher, A. Steiger, H. D. Flores, A. Corbelli, S. Alaimo, L. Regazzo. Conductor C. Rizzi / Paris Palais Garnier 12/13/2002
- Rossini Cinderella. Elina Garancha , C. di Senso, N. Palacios, M. Mironov, N. Rivenk, A. Concetti, L. Regazzo. Conductor E. Pido / Paris Theater des Champs-Elysees 11/22/2004
Literature
- Opera libretto. - M., 1954.