Schedule for "Cinderella" (Balletin 3 acts) S.Prokofiev 2013

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev

Orchestra: Stanislavsky theatre symphony orchestra

Classical Ballet in 3 acts

A beautiful fairy-tale filled with what we expect and love so much about  fairy-tales – a kind Fairy Godmother, easily working wonders, a splendidly beautiful royal ball, a king, an evil Step mother and, of course, Cinderella and the Prince who go through all magic impediments in the name of love.
Irina Safonova,“Vash Dosug”

Composer - Sergei Prokofiev
Libretto by Nikolay Volkov after Charles Perrault
Choreography and Production - Oleg Vinogradov
Set Design - Valery Levental
Musical Director and Conductor - Felix Korobov
Costume Design - Galina Solovyova
Conductor - Georgy Zhemchuzhin 
Premiere November 4, 2006

Additional information

Synopsis

Act I

Overture

The good Fairy-Enchantress appears with the first sounds of overture. She touches the curtain with her magic wand and we see…

It is the Magic Land where Cinderella lives.

Cinderella's stepsisters in their bedroom

It is noon but Cinderella's stepsisters have just awakened. As usual the morning begins with a quarrel. It is interrupted by joyous Stepmother: they are invited to the Royal Ball.

- Where are you, slob? – the sisters shout.

Cinderella

Charming girl runs into the bedroom. She is dressed in patched clothes and put heavy clogs on her feet. She brings the clothes for her lazy sisters and helps them put it on. But they always rebuke her. Cinderella endures it silently.

Costumes

A Couturier tries to assist the Stepsisters to select appropriate ball gowns. A Dancing Master also arrives, attempting the impossible task of coaching the Stepsisters in the fine art of dancing. The family departs for the Ball, leaving Cinderella alone.

In the kitchen

Cinderella is always working. She is the mistress of the kitchen. Even the crockery dances with her. The teapots and the pans are her friends.

She is dreaming about the Royal Ball too. But she will never find herself there...

Magical transformation

The good Fairy-Enchantress observes everything. She remunerates Cinderella for her good deed. The fairies give her a magnificent dress and the Fairy-Enchantress presents her splendid dancing-slippers. The girl is nearly crying with happiness.

Cinderella is miraculously provided with a fancy carriage. The Fairy-Enchantress tells her to go to the ball, but to be back before midnight.

Act II

Royal Ball

The King enters, welcomes the assembly. The King, his Ministers and the court circle exhibit their aristocratic behavior. Cinderella’s Stepmother and Stepsisters try to imitate them.

A handsome boy, vivid and spontaneous, runs into the ballroom. And everyone bows – here is the Prince! The Stepsisters among others attempt to get the Prince's favor. But Cinderella attracts quite a bit of attention especially from the Prince.

Prince invites a mysterious beauty (actually the dressed-up Cinderella) to dance. He forgets everything but her. And the world around became different.

Magic Garden

Cinderella cannot remove her eyes from the Prince's face too. The two dance all night causing Cinderella to forget about her midnight deadline. As the clock starts to chime, she realizes she must go before her clothes turn to rags. She quickly leaves without explanation and in her hurry, leaves a slipper behind on the stairs. The Prince chases after her, but only finds the single slipper.

Act III

Palace

The next day, the Prince, unable to stop thinking about Cinderella, orders a kingdom-wide search to find her.

The search

The Prince travels from house to house with the glass slipper and has each girl try it on. And the good Fairy-Enchantress finally shows him the way.

The house of Cinderella's stepmother

When the Prince arrives he is greeted by the obnoxious Stepsisters. The Stepsisters try on the slipper, but it does not fit. The Prince is nearly to retire when the brass teapot blocks his way. Then he hit on the coffee-pot. "It's strange; the crockery acts as if it tries to help me".

The Prince finds out that there is still one more girl in the house. He recognizes his beloved in Cinderella.

The fairies bless them and the Prince and Cinderella live happily ever after.