Hilarious, delightful, musically rich, and utterly theatrical
Presented by State Opera South Australia
Reviewed 7 May 2026
Rossini’s operatic take on the Cinderella story, La Cenerentola is not often performed. So it is refreshing to see our State Opera take this one on as its opener to their 50th anniversary gala season.
Neil Armfield, probably Australia’s most experienced opera director has taken the helm of this production, and delivered fun, frivolity, and fine music, in equal serves. Within a sort of non-specific modern setting, Stephen Curtis’s set and costumes do a solid job. A stage-within-the-stage is set up with basic scaffolding and some raggedy looking curtains. The chorus are dressed, and double as, stagehands. The role of Alidoro, embodied superbly by Pelham Andrews, becomes a stage-manager of both the opera, and the action within the story. This conceit allows for some lovely theatrical humour, and a general loosening of the stays, although the production design overall lacks cohesion, and doesn’t make a huge amount of sense.
The cast win the day here, with Anna Dowsley resplendent as Angelina, Jihoon Son in magnificent vocal form as Ramiro, the ever-reliable Nicholas Lester as Dandini, and the wonderful Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Magnifico. As the sisters, Indyana Schneider is a complete delight as Tisbe, while Helena Dix’s extraordinary voice blew the roof off in her role as Clorinda. Fine ensemble work and measured direction combined to make this work, in terms of actual performance, one of the best State Opera has given us for a while.
And of course, throughout, the work of the State Opera Chorus was once again an utter joy to both behold and be-hear! Chorus Master Anthony Hunt is a master of his craft, and this chorus delivers both ensemble and a group of individuals. Finger clicks for Garry Stewart’s charmingly ironic choreography which was showcased by the Chorus. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra was under the baton of Stuart Stratford gave us its usual fine work.
La Cenerentola is an uproarious comedy, but also a vocally challenging and musically breathtaking, opera. It is a little shorter than many and has a smaller, ensemble cast. For these reasons alone it is the perfect production for an opera newbie. But this is also highly satisfying for those old opera hands who’ve lost count of how many “Figaros” they’ve seen!
Opening night saw a much-deserved standing ovation, with enthusiastic laughter and applause scattered throughout the evening. An absolute winner for State Opera, that is sure to sell out.
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Photo credit: Andrew Beveridge
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Season: 7th May-16th May
Duration: 2.5 hours inc. interval
Tickets: $35 – $199 (plus booking fee)
Bookings: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CENEREN26
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Anna Dowsley, Anthony Hunt, Garry Stewart, Gioachino Rossini, Helena Dix, Indyana Schneider, Jihoon Son, Neil Armfield, Nicholas Lester, Pelham Andrews, State Opera, Stuart Stratford, Teddy Tahu Rhodes
