Cinderella opera offers twists on classic tale

Cinderella will lose more than her slipper this week. She'll also lose her Fairy Godmother.

That's because Gioacchino Rossini's version of "La Cenerentola" ("Cinderella"), being performed by The Opera Theatre of the Rockies, diverges a bit from the Disney and Brothers Grimm versions we all know.

"Around the world, there are countless versions of the 'Cinderella tale' that differ from the Brothers Grimm story most of us are familiar with," says Martile Rowland, "La Cenerentola" producer, artistic director and goddess of Colorado Springs opera. "Rossini's opera holds the story line we're familiar with but has differences, such as a wicked stepfather instead of a stepmother and, as noted, the absence of the wand-wielding Godmother.

Rossini's opera maintains the charm and sparkle you may remember when Cinderella finds her true life in the Disney tale, but in "La Cenerentola," the underappreciated servant is guided by Alidoro, performed by bass-baritone Christopher Roselli, instead of a whimsical fairy.

"Alidoro is the catalyst," Rowland says. "He makes everything happen for Cinderella like the Fairy Godmother."

Alidoro, the philosophical adviser to Prince Ramiro, performed by tenor Curt Peterson, directs Cinderella throughout the opera and ensures she is prepared to attend the prince's ball.

"It's pretty much the same story, just without the pumpkin and mice," Peterson says.

"La Cenerentola" has another substantial difference from the Brothers Grimm story. In Rossini's tale, Prince Ramiro swaps places with his servant Dandini, performed by baritone Peter Tuff, and initially meets Cinderella when he is disguised as a peasant.

Dandini parades around the kingdom wallowing in his temporarily acquired status and announces he is seeking a bride. Dandini courts women for Ramiro while the disguised prince keeps a keen eye on the women suiting the "prince," curious to analyze their true intentions.

The world's most famous piece of footware -- Cinderella's glass slipper -- was inserted in Rossini's story for this production.

"Rossini used a bracelet instead of a glass slipper, but we decided to use the slipper," Peterson says.

Rossini's "La Cenerentola," considered one of his most challenging musical scores, will be performed with a 30-piece orchestra, with many members from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and a 16-member male choir.

"This orchestra is so good, its like driving a Cadillac," says conductor James Allbritten.

"It's a nice love story and in the midst of craziness," director Steven LaCosse says.

"It's entertaining and stays true to Rossini's story. It's a charming opera set in the world of a crazy family, where everybody is trying to be something they aren't and Cinderella's goodness transforms them all."

details

The Opera Theatre of the Rockies production of Rossini's "La Cenerentola"

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Tuesday, June 10 and 12

Where: Colorado College's Armstrong Theatre on Cache La Poudre Street at Cascade Avenue.

Tickets: $15-$40 at Tickets-West outlets; call 520-7409 or visit www.ticketswest.com.

Additional info: Monitors above the Armstrong Theatre stage will feature translation as the performers sing in Italian.

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