Gorgeous Singing and Hilarious Hijinks Abound In Arizona Opera's Season Finale CINDERELLA

Arizona Opera is pleased to present its 2016/2017 season finale, Cinderella (La Cenerentola). Composed by well-known Italian opera icon Gioachino Rossini of Barber of Seville fame, this production is sure to dazzle both opera regulars and newcomers. Cinderella is sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Performances of Cinderella are April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and April 2 at 2:00 p.m. at Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave in Tucson, and April 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m.and April 9 at 2:00 p.m. in Symphony Hall, 75 N. 2nd St., Phoenix. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at www.azopera.org or by calling 602.266.7464 or 520.293.4336.

Soaring arias and outlandish hijinks abound in this delightful version of the classic story. Angelina (Cinderella) is forced to serve her stepfather, Don Magnifico, and his two ridiculous daughters. With help from the prince's tutor and a pair of beautiful bracelets, Angelina navigates the precarious court of Don Ramiro, hoping to win his heart.

Real-life sweethearts Daniela Mack and Alek Shrader help bring this fun, vibrant fairytale to life. Mezzo-soprano Mack brings her "caramel timbre, flickering vibrato, and crisp articulation" (Opernwelt) to her role as Angelina, while tenor Alek Shrader brings this production's Don Ramiro to life with "his youthful vibrant tenor and superb vocalism" (Classical Review).

Alternating with Daniela Mack and Alek Shrader in the lead roles of Angelina And Don Ramiro are Alyssa Martin, a second year artist of the Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio and Andrew Owens, whose Don Ramiro "served up classical Italian lyricism and attached the high-D fearlessly." (Der Standard). Mack and Shrader will perform on April 1, 7 and 9 and Alyssa Martin and Andrew Owens will perform on April 2 and 8.

Cinderella's ugly step-sisters create some of the biggest laughs and hilarity in the opera and will be portrayed by Katrina Galka (Clorinda) and Mariya Kaganskaya (Tisbe). Stefano de Peppo returns to Arizona Opera as Don Magnifico, the ridiculously pompous step-father, hell-bent on marrying one of his daughters to the Prince.

Rounding out the cast are Marion Roose Pullin Studio Artists Joseph Lattanzi as Dandini, and Zachary Owen as Alidoro.

Arizona Opera's production of Cinderella is conducted by Dean Williamson and directed by Crystal Manich in her Arizona Opera debut.