The overture is jubilant and soon enough the vocals are twirling and rising into an Italian Bel Canto.* Nothing is more fun.
I’m excited Portland is playing Rossini’s version of Cinderella since I just saw Massenet’s version. My biggest surprise is that there is no magical fairy god mother in this one, no glass slipper, and no evil stepmother either, but at its emotional core it is still much the Cinderella you know; true love is aided and abetted.
Colorful costumes and the step sisters ham it up for a real fun performance providing plenty of comic relief.
It could take a lifetime to see 101 operas and it could take a lifetime to truly understand just one of them completely. But, if you ever need permission to not think and just go along for the ride of beautiful sounds and light hearted fun look no further than a Rossini Bel Canto Opera.
While I might overanalyze now and then, Opera is a wonderful art form. Sound and movement on stage are like sunshine for the soul and my advice above all else is:
Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!
So what’s La Cenerentola all about? begins with the trope of a disguise. The tutor of the prince is pretending to be a beggar. When he visits the home of Angelina (Cinderella) she is kind to him, but the other sisters are not. Cinderella makes an important ally here because there is no fairy god mother in this one. Later the prince disguises himself as a servant and again not only is Cinderella kind, but the two are attracted to each other. Our Cinderella is so genuine and kind and the music is so gorgeous that we endure the cruelty put to her by the sisters and cruel buffoonish father because we know in the end her goodness will overcome all the adversities and we will have a happy ending.
Listen for:
Duet between Angelina and Don Ramiro about love at first sight is charming: Un soave non so Che
Notes on the production:
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Composer………………………….…. Gioachino Rossini
Cenerentola/Angelina…………… Kate Farrar
Don Ramiro…………………….…….. Alasdair Kent
Dandini………………………………….. Ryan Thorn
Don Magnifico……………..……….. Eduardo Chama
Clorinda…………………………………. Helen Huang
Conductor…………………………….. Carolyn Kuan
Portland Opera
7/15/18
*Bel canto literally means ‘beautiful singing.’ With exciting melodies, multiple singers, heart felt solo arias, and fun patter songs these Italian operas from Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti and others are fun and refreshing.