Rossini’s Cinderella (La Cenerentola) is less a fairy tale than a merry masquerade. Ferretti, the librettist, set aside most of the magical elements from Perrault’s Cinderella, in favour of a moral fable built on a brilliant play of disguises and misunderstandings.

To give life to the vocal whirlwind of the score and the powerful comic elements of the libretto, the singers’ performance is inspired by the Commedia dell’arte, and the visual universe is full of illusions and surprises. Like figurines struggling in a crazy music box, the characters move across a revolving stage, whose settings are gradually disguised. This rotating mechanism of deception is animated by the shadowy figure of the philosopher Fabio, embodying Ferretti’s well-meaning ideals. Each sharply drawn character plays a social and theatrical role to achieve their goals. With their deliberately exaggerated appearances, they all – perhaps unwillingly – highlight the masquerade they are part of.

Ultimately, Cinderella appears as a parable about truth revealed through the subterfuge of lies, and the perseverance required to uncover it. It can also be seen as a metaphor for theatre itself, which uses artifice and stylisation to reveal our true selves.

Julien Lubek and Cécile Roussat.

Recreation Royal Opera / Château de Versailles Productions.
Reprisal by the Royal Opera of Wallonia-Liège.

The costumes, makeup, and accessories were created by the Château de Versailles Spectacles teams for the 2025 recreation.

The shows on October 14th and 16th are being recorded by Camera Lucida.

The narratives were arranged and translated by Gaétan Jarry, who will perform them on the fortepiano.
Musical material provided by Éditions Buissonnières.

This concert has been made possible through the generous support of ADOR – the Friends of the Royal Opera.

Dramma giocoso in two acts on a libretto by Jacopo Ferretti, created at the Teatro Valle in Rome in 1817.

Sung in French.

Show in French surtiltled in French and English.

First part : 1h40

Intermission

Second part : 1h

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY : Best seats in house, you will receive a complimentary programme and a glass of champagne.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats, you will receive a complimentary programme and a glass of champagne.

REDUCED RATE : applicable to under 26s, Chateau de Versailles Spectacles card holders and groups of more than 10 people (excluding special company offer).

GROUP RATES : for more information, please refer to our page dedicated to works councils and groups.

In case of any technical problem, the box office service remains available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).

To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone.