Daughters of Don Magnifico:
Tisbe (TIS-BEY); mezzo-soprano
Clorinda (CLOR-IN-DAH); soprano

Members of the Royal Court:
Don Ramiro (DON RAH-MEER-OH), Prince of Salerno; tenor
Dandini (DAN-DEE-NEE), the Prince's valet; baritone
Alidoro (AHL-EE-DOOR-OH), the Prince's tutor; bass

A beggar, or so it seems, arrives at the door. The man is really Alidoro, tutor of the prince, Don Ramiro. He is going around the kingdom in disguise to find a suitable bride for his master. Clorinda and Tisbe tell Alidoro to go away, but the good-hearted Cenerentola gives him a cup of coffee and some bread. When the stepsisters see this, they fly into a rage and begin to yell at Cenerentola. She is saved by the arrival of the pages from the Royal court. They explain that Don Ramiro will soon appear to invite the sisters to a magnificent ball at his palace, where he will choose a young woman to become his wife.

This is exciting news for Clorinda and Tisbe. They begin shouting at Cenerentola to fetch their best clothing. Each one is convinced that her charms will win the Prince's love. The pages depart, but the stepsisters notice that the "beggar" has remained. They shoo him away. As he is leaving, Cenerentola apologizes that she has no money to offer him. "It breaks my heart that I have nothing to give a poor, unhappy man," she says. Thinking that he may have found the perfect girl for the Prince, Alidoro replies, "Perhaps, by tomorrow, you will be happy."

All the commotion of the morning has awakened Don Magnifico, who emerges from his bedroom in a nightcap and dressing gown. He scolds his daughters for interrupting the wonderful dream he was having, all about a donkey who sprouted wings and began to fly. Magnifico is convinced that the dream foretells good luck for his family. He fantasizes that his daughters will marry royalty, and that he himself will be the grandfather of kings. When Clorinda and Tisbe tell him about the ball, and that the Prince will soon be paying them a visit, Magnifico is overjoyed. He begs each of the girls to do whatever she can to snare Ramiro as her husband. Then he and his daughters go to prepare for the arrival of the Prince.

Suddenly, the Prince's valet, or so it seems, arrives. It is really the Prince himself, Don Ramiro, in disguise. He has already been told by Alidoro that a beautiful and kind young woman lives in Don Magnifico's home, and he has come to see for himself. When Cenerentola returns to the room, she is so startled by the stranger that she drops a cup and saucer. She and Ramiro are instantly attracted to each other. Cenerentola is disappointed when the stranger says he is looking for Magnifico's daughters. Then she becomes nervous and shy when he asks who she is. She tells him of her life of drudgery, and the Prince finds himself falling hopelessly in love with her. Cenerentola's stepsisters call sharply to her from their rooms, and she goes to them. Ramiro remarks to himself that even though Cenerentola is in rags, he can see true beauty in her.

With great fanfare and accompanied by members of the court, the Prince's real valet, Dandini, arrives - disguised as the Prince! This is all part of Ramiro's plan to find the perfect bride. Dandini laments that, though he's been searching the kingdom and has seen thousands of fair maids, he has not yet found a bride.

Don Magnifico, Clorinda, and Tisbe enter, thrilled by the honor of the Prince's visit. Dandini praises them so highly that the silly girls and their father are sure they've already won the Prince's heart. Meanwhile, Ramiro is looking around, wondering where Cenerentola might be. When she returns, Cenerentola notices that the handsome young man can't take his eyes off her.

Dandini (as the Prince) explains that, according to the will of his father, he must marry immediately or lose his inheritance. He bids the Herald and courtiers to escort Clorinda and Tisbe to the ball (Listen to the Invitation to the Ball). Everyone leaves except Ramiro: he stays behind - outside the house - to catch another glimpse of Cenerentola.

Cenerentola begs her stepfather to take her to the ball "for just one hour." Magnifico laughs at the very thought, and tells her to leave him alone. Dandini returns to fetch Ramiro, and they both watch from outside the house. When Cenerentola continues to plead with Magnifico, the old man threatens her, and Ramiro and Dandini rush to her aid. Magnifico bows respectfully to the gentlemen, then tells Cenerentola to get out. He lies to Ramiro and Dandini, telling them that Cenerentola is only a servant, "the lowest of the low." Cenerentola pleads with the gentlemen to convince Magnifico that she should attend the ball.

Alidoro returns, now dressed as himself, with a list of all the eligible young women in the kingdom. The list shows that Magnifico has three daughters. When Alidoro demands to see the Baron's third daughter, Magnifico swears that she is dead. Cenerentola speaks up in shock, and her stepfather whispers that he will silence her completely. Seeming to accept Don Magnifico's explanation, at least for now, the men go off to the ball, leaving Cenerentola alone.

A few moments later, Alidoro - quite the quick-change artist - returns, dressed as a beggar once again. Grateful for any sign of affection, Cenerentola is pleased to hear Alidoro fondly call her "daughter." When the "beggar" invites her to the ball, Cenerentola thinks he's making fun of her. But Alidoro says, "Everything has changed for you! You will exchange your rags for a beautiful gown, and you'll charm all hearts." Alidoro presents Cenerentola with two crystal bracelets as a symbol of "her goodness; pure and true." When the carriage arrives, he sends the astonished girl off to the ball.

*****

Act II
At the palace, the festivities have begun. Dandini - still pretending to be the Prince - is being chased by the two sisters and Don Magnifico is helping himself to the food. Dandini escapes from the girls and enters a deserted room with the real prince. When Don Ramiro asks to be told the truth about Clorinda and Tisbe, his servant replies that "they're a mixture of bad manners, bad temper and vanity." Still unaware that Don Magnifico is Cenerentola's stepfather, the Prince can't understand Alidoro's advice that one of the Baron's daughters is the bride for whom he's been searching.

Clorinda and Tisbe hurry in looking for the Prince. Dandini (as the Prince) announces his decision: since he can't marry both of them, he will take one of the girls for himself and give the other to the valet. The sisters are offended by the very idea of marrying a lowly servant.

Alidoro interrupts to announce the arrival of a mysterious lady. Cenerentola appears, dressed in a beautiful gown given to her by Alidoro. Her face is hidden by a veil. Though neither Clorinda nor Tisbe can tell who she is, they are filled with jealousy. When Cenerentola speaks, Don Ramiro feels certain he has heard her voice before. Dandini removes the girl's veil, and everyone present is struck by her loveliness. Don Magnifico is disturbed by the new arrival; he and his daughters try to convince themselves that the girl's resemblance to Cenerentola is just a coincidence. ("Ours is coarse and clumsy. This one's a bit prettier," Clorinda and Tisbe say, "but still not so beautiful as to compare with me.") Dandini invites all those present to take their places at the banquet, promising that he will finally choose a bride at the ball after supper.

Finding himself alone after dinner, the real Prince thinks about the resemblance between the beautiful mystery woman of the ball and the lowly serving girl who had caught his eye and warmed his heart that same morning. When he sees Cenerentola approaching with Dandini, Ramiro hides to eavesdrop on their conversation. Dandini has been completely charmed by Cenerentola. The Prince is surprised to hear Dandini protest that Cenerentola won't allow him to woo her. Cenerentola confesses that she is in love with another man, the Prince's valet!

Hearing this, Ramiro comes out of hiding, still pretending to be a valet. "My dearest," he asks Cenerentola, "do rank and riches not appeal to your heart?" Cenerentola answers that she cares only for love and virtue. When Ramiro asks if she will be his, Cenerentola says that he must first learn more about her. She gives Ramiro one of her bracelets, saying: "Take this. Search for me. On my right wrist, you will see the companion to it. And then, if you still love me, you shall have won me." All of this is heard and seen by Alidoro, who tells himself that everything is going wonderfully well.

Cenerentola departs, and Ramiro reveals his disguise. On the advice of Alidoro, Ramiro orders that a coach and horses be made ready so that he may begin searching for his newly beloved and he rushes off.

Dandini re-enters, pondering how quickly hes been reduced from all to nothing. When Don Magnifico bursts in, Dandini cant resist playing the role of the Prince just a bit longer. He tells the Baron that he has chosen his bride from among his two daughtersbut he wont say which. When Magnifico begs for more information, Dandini finally reveals the game that he and the Prince have been playing. The furious Magnifico swears that Ramiro will pay for making such a fool of him.

*****

Later that night at Don Magnifico's mansion, and once again dressed in rags, Cenerentola sits dreaming of her handsome young man. Her thoughts are interrupted by the return of her stepfather and stepsisters. Cenerentola reminds them so much of the mysterious woman at the ball that they threaten to attack her.

Suddenly there is thunder and lightning, followed by the sound of a carriage arriving. Don Magnifico sends Cenerentola off to prepare supper and she leaves the room just as Ramiro and Dandini enter to seek shelter from the storm. Both are surprised to recognize Don Magnifico. The old man, hoping that the real Prince has come to woo one of his daughters, calls for Cenerentola to bring a chair for his highness.

Cenerentola is astonished to see Ramiro again so soon, and he is no less shocked to recognize the bracelet on her right arm. The Prince immediately declares his love for Cenerentola, to the total amazement of her stepfather and stepsisters. When she tries to embrace her family as a sign of forgiveness, they pull away from her. The Prince warns them that they will be sorry for he wants Cenerentola as his bride. While Don Magnifico and the stepsisters express their confusion, Cenerentola and Ramiro sing of their love.

*****

At last, in Don Ramiro's palace, Alidoro and the Herald celebrate the fact that love has triumphed over selfishness and evil. Don Magnifico finally asks Cenerentola to forgive him and his daughters, which she does with all her heart. "The old offenses have vanished from my memory," she says. "Always my life had been tragic, but quick as a flash of lightning, my fortune has changed. No more crying by the fireplace, singing all alone." Everyone sings the praises of Cenerentola as she and her Prince begin their life together.