Fun and farcical, La Cenerentola introduces Opera Queensland’s third Bel Canto Festival, which explores the beauty, power and versatility of the human voice.

The story of Cinderella has universal appeal. Who hasn’t experienced injustice, been sidelined, or faced undeserved aggravation from dodgy relatives? It’s infinitely relatable.

Angeline’s dreary, mind-numbing existence of daily drudgery, intensified by emotional abuse from Don Magnifico, her stepfather, and stepsisters Tisbe and Clorinda, tugs at the heartstrings. Cendrillon was prompted by the story, and there are numerous film versions, including Cinderella, Ever After, Ella Enchanted and Into the Woods.

Queensland Opera’s La Cenerentola. Photo © David Kelly

Infusing Rossini’s masterpiece is his strong belief in goodness as an agent of change. In his version, the plot has been stripped of supernatural elements: mouthy mice, pumpkins repurposed into a fancy carriage, a fairy godmother, and the potential catastrophic consequence...