Askungen by Rossini, sön 22 dec 2024, Från (2024/2025), Regisserad av Bruno Klimek, Dirigent Tommaso Turchetta, Aalto Theatre, Essen, Tyskland

Prince Ramiro is impoverished and is therefore looking for a rich bride, hoping to marry one of Don Magnifico's daughters - and collect the dowry - without knowing that Magnifico is also bankrupt and would therefore be delighted to have a princely brother-in-law. At Don Magnifico's, Ramiro meets Angelina, called Cenerentola, who transforms herself into a beautiful woman with the help of Alidoro and appears veiled at Ramiro's party. But Ramiro must prove his love in order to marry the unknown woman. A shoe is supposed to be of use to him as an aid. After the huge success of "Il Barbiere di Siviglia", Gioacchino Rossini devoted himself to one of Charles Perrault's most famous fairy tales, without concentrating on the fairy-tale aspect of the story. The good fairy became a learned master (Alidoro) and the sad "Cinderella", who sits in the ashes and awaits her fate, became a self-confident and independent, even emancipated woman. The music of "Cenerentola" has lost none of its brilliance and liveliness since its premiere in 1817: great arias with breakneck coloraturas and magnificently composed ensemble scenes can be found in this score, but also "a certain 'electricity' or rhythmic energy, which also creates the humorous aspect", as musical director Tommaso Turchetta confirms. Bruno Klimek, known in Essen for his colourful production of “A Night in Venice”, is staging “Cenerentola” for the first time in the history of the Aalto Music Theatre and knows how to transfer the Commedia dell'arte characteristics of the material to the stage.