ROSSINI , La Cenerentola

A Cinderella full of surprises

[ Escucha el podcast original en español aquí ]

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Manuel Gimferrer y Georgina García-Mauriño welcome us to the discovery or just to know a bit more about La Cenerentola, an opera by Rossini which is full of surprises despite being based on the very famous tale of Cinderella.

In their conversation for the original podcast, they explain some of the differences we can find when comparing with the most popular version of the tale: there is not a glass shoe but a pair of bracelets; there is no stepmother but a stepfather who is as bad as ridiculous; there is no magical godmother but a wise philosopher; the prince hides himself behind the costume of his valet; etc.

Angelina-Cenerentola, her stpsisters Clorinda and Tsibe, and don magnificio, count of Montefiascone.

The prince arrives with his followers and valet to invite the sisters to a ball. Cenerentola will receive support and help from the wise philosopher Alidoro.

In the party the prince realizes how unbearable the tow sisters are… But there comes a new guest who leaves everyone in an aw…

The love between Cenerentola and the “valet” will only be possible when he knows who she actually is; and to be able to find her, she gives him one of her bracelets…

Nobody in this opera is who he seems to be which is full of the best sense of humor. Manuel explains that Rossini composed his first opera in the classical Italian style at thirteen years old, became the great reference for bel canto, and finally retired to Paris when he was only thirty eight years old, after composing a French Grand Opera where he was already embracing Romanticism… Manuel also tells us about his vitalist and generous personality, and about how he managed to put his great sense of humour in music.

The images in this post were made by Georgina for our version in the collection Cuéntame una Ópera - Tell Me An Opera.

Manuel has made a simple arrangement -that he recorded in the studio for this podcast- of the song that Angelina sings by the fireplace. This song outlines the main plot and learning of this opera as a tale, a favorit of us that we recommend to children and adults as well:

Once upon a time there was a king
who was bored of being lonely.
He looked around and finally found,
yet there were three who wanted to marry him.
What did he do?
…
He let down wealth and beauty,
and he chose for himself
innocence and goodness.

Manuel also recommends a version in video, the one he most enjoyed being a child. And you can see below the first scenes… For the complete version here is the link too.

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Estamos preparando nuestras óperas como cuentos y contenidos educativos asociados para llevarlos a la plataforma MIRLOS que se está diseñando en nuestro estudio. Si quieres conocer más sobre este proyecto, puedes informarte aquí.

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