Lyric Opera 2023-2024 Issue 5 - Cinderella

Teresa Berganza originated the title role in this production at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House in 1969. Rossini’s enchanting fairytale heroine is the downtrodden daughter of a selfish father, Don Magnifico. When Prince Ramiro (disguised as his own valet, Dandini) meets her, they fall instantly in love, leading—after a few complications—to a heartwarming happy ending. Rossini’s score provides endless sparkle, with Cenerentola’s and Ramiro’s arias abounding in fabulous vocal virtuosity. There’s also hilarity, thanks to the antics of Magnifico and Dandini. Two rising stars, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya and Jack Swanson, are joined by the incomparable Alessandro Corbelli to lead Lyric’s cast, in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s world-famous production led by the exciting Taiwanese conductor Yi-Chen Lin. Robert Cahen/San Francisco Opera