Ballet Constellation
Teatro di San Carlo Ballet Company Cinderella
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Opera House
Dates: July 06-08, 2018
About
Music: Sergey Prokofiev
Libretto: Nikolai Volkov
Choreography: Giuseppe Picone
Sets: Nicola Rubertelli
Costumes: Giusi Giustino
Premiere: November 21st, 1945, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow
Cast
Cinderella: Claudia d'Antonio / Anna Chiara Amirante
Prince: Alessandro Staiano / Salvatore Manzo
Arabella (stepsister): Candida Sorrentino
Araminta (stepsister): Sara Sancamillo
Fairy: Anna Chiara Amirante / Luisa Ieluzzi
Stepmother: Valentina Vitale
Synopsis
Act I
The scene opens with Cinderella busy doing the household chores at her father’s house. Left alone by her stepsisters, Arabella and Araminta, who detest her, she recalls with sadness her childhood when her real mother was still alive and everything was different. She knows her father always loves her but he is not able to change the feelings of his other two children. Meanwhile a beggar arrives and the two stepsisters make fun of her while Cinderella offers kindness and comfort to her. Arabella and Araminta begin to prepare for the Grand Ball. The stepmother accompanies them leaving Cinderella alone at home. The beggar comes back and reveals that she is a fairy. She calls to her the Fairies of the Four Seasons and their Knights and returns the kindness she received from Cinderella with a magnificent evening gown for the Grand Ball. She warns Cinderella that the spell will finish at midnight. At that moment, the beautiful princess will go back to being a humble girl. Then Cinderella is taken to the Ball.
Act II
At the palace, there is a great party. Cinderella’s stepsisters arrive and immediately afterwards the prince also makes his entrance. Cinderella enters the ballroom last, accompanied by magic music. Everyone thinks she is a princess, she is so beautiful and radiant, and not even her stepmother and stepsisters recognise her. The prince invites her to dance and in the middle of the party, amidst all the guests, he declares his love. Taken by the dance, Cinderella forgets the warning of the fairy but with the sounding of the midnight bells, she comes to her senses and suddenly runs away. The prince, surprised, tries to stop her and one of her shoes remains in his hands. He promises to search for the beautiful princess who is the owner of the shoe.
Act III
The prince leaves with his four faithful friends to search for the mysterious girl and the Fairies of the Four Seasons make it possible for them to reach exactly the house where Cinderella lives. Arabella and Araminta try to put on the shoe but, in spite of their efforts and the help of everyone, they do not succeed in their intent. Then the prince decides to allow Cinderella to try on the shoe and immediately he recognises her as the mysterious princess of the Ball. Taken by the notes of the magical music, they dance to their dream of love.
