The story of the servant girl magically transformed into a princess is found in the traditional stories of ancient Greece, the Tang dynasty of China, Arabian Nights, as well in the fairytales of Perrault, the Brothers Grimm and –as we all know – Walt Disney. However, in none of these - as far as we know - is there the Hamlet-like question we hear in La Cenerentola:  ≪.Am I prince or a cauliflower? ≫. In effect, a century and a half  of commedia dell’arte  tradition and another of opera buffa  had not elapsed in vain for this dramma giocoso  exceeded all expectations of its time –the opera  reached Constantinople, Buenos Aires, Calcutta and Sydney only a few decades after its premiere in Rome – and its popularity continues to captivate audiences today. 

On this occasion, the light-hearted and lively production by Stefan Herheim adds an unexpected ingredient to an exciting mix of humour and fantasy because the composer himself makes an appearance and demonstrates how, in reality, true magic is found in the human voice.