Rossini: La Cenerentola – starring Elīna Garanča & Lawrence Brownlee

If ever a composer was born to set the enchanting fairy tale of Cinderella to sparkling music, it was Rossini. His much put-upon heroine Angelina (mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča) has to cope not only with nasty stepsisters but also an over-the-top, farcical father, Don Magnifico (baritone Alessandro Corbelli). And in this version the prince (tenor Lawrence Brownlee) and his valet (baritone Simone Alberghini) swap identities, which causes no end of delightful confusion. With Cesare Lievi’s delightful storybook production and Maurizio Benini’s expert conducting, it’s all as light and delicious as a marvelous musical soufflé. (© The Metropolitan Opera)