Review: Virginia Opera's 'Cinderella,'

Just forget the glass slippers (they must have been excruciating to wear), and for goodness’ sake throw out that moldy pumpkin coach.

Gioachino Rossini’s (1792-1868) “La Cenerentola,” though funny (it’s generally classified as opera buffa), is more about class than glass. His bel canto score is paired with a magic-free libretto by Jacopo Ferretti, who borrowed from three other writers. The Cinderella story itself dates from 16th century German and 17th century French sources, especially Charles Perrault (1628-1703). Rossini premiered the work in 1817 Rome where some, even in that Disney-free world, demanded the magic stuff be put back. He remained firm. He was riding high: 38 operas created in 38 years of composing. He stuck to his “no magic” position and fairly soon thereafter went into