Opera Colorado presents CINDERELLA (La Cenerentola) By Gioachino Rossini

DENVER, CO—Rossini’s Cinderella lights up the stage of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for four performances, April 30 through May 8, 2011. Cinderella is Rossini’s take on the traditional fairytale about a young girl who yearns for true love. In this version, Cinderella is known as Angelina. She toils away while under the thumb of her stepfather, Don Magnifico, and her vain stepsisters. When Angelina offers kindness to a stranger, her fate is forever altered as she is whisked away to the ball and becomes the woman who captures the prince’s heart. In this version of the story, Angelina’s transformation is brought about not by supernatural powers, but through the magic of music. The sets and costumes for this performance were created by late opera director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle (1932-1988), one of the giants of international opera culture. Ponnelle created this production Page 2 of 4 for San Francisco Opera and it has been a perennial favorite with that company for generations.

Ponnelle’s delightful vision for La Cenerentola is one of his most beloved and his production has been carefully preserved by distinguished Stage Director Grischa Asagaroff, one of Ponnelle’s original assistants. Conductor Timothy Long makes his Opera Colorado debut with this production. The cast includes three artists making their Opera Colorado debuts as well as returning favorite performers.

Live Broadcast "We are excited to announce that the April 30th performance of Cinderella will be broadcast live statewide on Colorado Public Radio's classical music channel," said General Director Gregory Carpenter. The broadcasts can be heard in Denver on KVOD, 88.1 FM and in Boulder on 99.9 FM. A list of statewide translators is available at Colorado Public Radio's website. The broadcast will also be streamed live on their website at CPR.org. The broadcast is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Ellie Caulkins.

Timothy Long, Conductor, Grischa Asagaroff, Stage Director, Greg Fortner, Associate Stage Director. Daniela Mack as Angelina (Cinderella), Michele Angelini as Prince Ramiro, Daniel Belcher as Dandini, Philip Cokorinos as Don Magnifico, Dale Travis as Alidoro