The work of Gioachino Rossini for the first time in Rijeka: the premiere of "Cinderella" on October 24

The Rijeka Opera will stage its first-ever performance of La Cenerentola (Cinderella) by Gioachino Rossini at the HNK Ivan pl. Zajca on Saturday, October 24, beginning at 7 p.m. This production is based on the legendary staging by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, one of the most influential directors in musical theater, and is considered a vital part of Europe’s operatic heritage. It has been performed repeatedly over decades at numerous European and global opera houses. The staging was originally created for the Bavarian State Opera in Munich in 1980 and continued to be presented even after Ponnelle's death in 1988. The Rijeka Opera's director, Valentin Egel, stated that bringing this production to Rijeca opens a space for engagement with a historically significant work while creating a direct and vivid experience for local audiences. He emphasized that the premiere brings more than just a popular comedic opera by Rossini, it introduces a piece of European operatic history to the Rijeka stage. The task, he said, is to preserve the precision and spirit of this exceptional production while allowing it to live fully on the local stage. The opera follows Rossini’s success with Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville). It quickly became another major hit, further solidifying Rossini’s position among Italy’s greatest composers of his time. Today, it is one of Rossini’s most frequently performed works, retaining the freshness and joy that characterized its premiere in 1817. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti based on Charles Perrault’s fairy tale but with fewer supernatural elements and more humor. Unlike traditional versions, Rossini’s heroine is transformed not by the magic of a benevolent fairy but through her inner strength. Rossini succeeded in portraying the humanity of his characters through music that radiates optimism, humor, and vitality, blending virtuosic comedy with gentle melancholy. The performance will be conducted by the respected young conductor Jiannan Cheng, accompanied by the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra and the Rijeka Male Choir. Soloists from the Rijeka Opera include Michaela Selinger, Anamarija Knego, Stefany Findrik, Jure Počkaj, Luka Ortar, and Slavko Sekulić. As a guest, rising tenor Shine Lee will join them. The staging, which Ponnelle also designed for set and costume, will be directed by young director Theresa Schlichtherle at the HNK Ivan pl. Zajca. The opera will be repeated on October 26 and 28, both at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or via the HNK Ivan pl. Zajca website.