San Francisco Opera presents Gioachino Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) in six performances November 9-26. French mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes makes her San Francisco Opera debut in the title role of Angelina (Cinderella), the gentle servant girl who catches the eye of a handsome prince. American tenor René Barbera makes his Company debut as the dashing prince Don Ramiro, Mexican-American baritone Efraín Solís makes his role debut as the prince's valet Dandini and Spanish baritone Carlos Chausson is Cinderella's evil stepfather. Based on one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time, La Cenerentola sparkles in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's charming and heartwarming production, directed by Gregory Fortner and conducted by esteemed Spanish conductor Jesús López-Cobos.
Soprano Karine Deshayes has previously appeared as Angelina with great success throughout her native France, including at Paris Opera, Opera de Tours, Bordeaux National Opera and Nantes Opera. Lauded by the New York Times for her "emotional depth and vibrant, beautiful sound," Deshayes' recent career highlights include Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi and the title role of L'incoronazione di Poppea at Paris Opera and Fenena in Nabucco at Orange Opera in France. This season she will also appear as Nicklausse/the Muse in Les Contes d'Hoffmann at the Metropolitan Opera as well as the title role of Offenbach's La Belle Hélène at Toulon Opera.American tenor René Barbera makes his San Francisco Opera debut as Cinderella's prince, Don Ramiro. Barbera has previously performed the role to great acclaim at Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera and West Palm Beach Opera. "Sensational as Don Ramiro," Barbera "negotiated his intricate fioratura with a golden elegance, never forcing, and suddenly pounced on a phrase or high note with an added vibrancy (Orange County Register)." Later this season the Merola Opera Program alumnus (2008) revisits another of his signature roles, Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Los Angeles Opera, and in 2015 he returns to San Francisco Opera as Iopas in Berlioz's Les Troyens.Presented by San Francisco Opera Education Department, Exploration Workshops: All About Cinderella! is an interactive, multi-generational workshop based on the themes, story, characters and music of La Cenerentola (Cinderella). The workshops will take place 10-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m on Saturday, November 1 and 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 16 in the Chorus Room of War Memorial Opera House. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased online in advance. At this time the November 16 workshops are sold out.
Tickets for performances of Rossini's La Cenerentola at the War Memorial Opera House are priced from $25 to $370 and may be purchased at sfopera.com or through the San Francisco Opera Box Office [301 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), or by phone at (415) 864-3330]. Standing Room tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of each performance; tickets are $10 each, cash only.
The War Memorial Opera House is located at 301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street. Patrons are encouraged to use public transportation to attend San Francisco Opera performances. The War Memorial Opera House is within walking distance of the Civic Center BART station and near numerous bus lines, including 5, 21, 47, 49 and the F Market Street. For more public transportation information, visit bart.gov and sfmuni.com.Videos