A CINDERELLA STORY
THAT FITS THE SLIPPER

Rossini’s comic gem sparkles
in an engaging production
filled with youthful talent

Wolf Trap Opera opened its 2026 season at The Barns with an engaging and thoroughly entertaining production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola. Based on the beloved Cinderella story, the opera follows the gentle and mistreated Angelina as she rises above the cruelty of her vain stepsisters and pompous stepfather through kindness, forgiveness, and quiet resilience. Rather than relying on fairy-tale magic, Rossini’s version replaces glass slippers and fairy godmothers with disguises, mistaken identities, and a prince searching for genuine virtue. Under the imaginative direction of Joel Ivany and the vibrant musical leadership of Louis Lohraseb, the production balances sparkling comedy with touching sincerity, allowing Rossini’s effervescent score to shine while keeping its message of compassion and redemption at the forefront.

Ziniu Zhao, Emily Treigle, Sophia Maekawa, and Angela Yam

Sophia Maekawa is a luminous Angelina, combining vocal finesse with emotional depth. Her warm, supple mezzo-soprano handles Rossini’s demanding coloratura with remarkable ease, while her graceful portrayal captures the character’s quiet dignity and generosity. She caps the evening with a breathtaking final rondò that displays both dazzling technique and expressive artistry.

Angel Raii Gomez and Members of the Wolf Trap Opera Studio

As Prince Ramiro, Angel Gomez sings with an elegant lyric tenor and an appealing sincerity that makes the prince’s devotion entirely believable. His chemistry with Maekawa grounds the romance, while Korin Thomas-Smith nearly steals the show as the disguised valet Dandini, relishing every comic opportunity with polish and confidence. His scenes with Ziniu Zhao‘s delightfully blustering Don Magnifico generate many of the evening’s biggest laughs. Zhao embraces the role’s comic excesses without sacrificing musical precision.

Angela Yam as Clorinda (left) and Emily Treigle as Tisbe (right), with Korin Thomas-Smith as Dandini

Angela Yam and Emily Treigle are perfectly paired as the vain, bickering Clorinda and Tisbe, bringing sharp comic timing and lively physical comedy to every scene. Providing welcome balance, Cumhur Görgün brings warmth and quiet authority to Alidoro, his resonant bass lending dignity to the opera’s moral center.

Korin Thomas-Smith, Sophia Maekawa, Angela Yam, Emily Treigle

Ivany’s staging makes excellent use of the intimate setting at The Barns, where every comic misunderstanding and tender exchange could be fully appreciated. The brisk pacing and character-driven humor keeps the production lively from beginning to end.

The Company

In the pit, Lohraseb leads the Wolf Trap Orchestra with elegance and vitality. Rossini’s trademark crescendos sparkle, the orchestra partner seamlessly with the singers, and the transparent playing highlight both the wit and sophistication of the score.

Sophia Maekawa

One of Wolf Trap Opera’s greatest strengths is its commitment to showcasing exceptional young artists, and La Cenerentola is another impressive example of the company’s talent. The uniformly strong cast and spirited ensemble work make for an evening greater than the sum of its parts.

At its heart, La Cenerentola reminds us that humility, forgiveness, and generosity possess a power greater than magic. Wolf Trap Opera’s delightful production honors those timeless themes through superb singing, imaginative staging, and irresistible comic flair. Next up at The Barns is Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin (July 17, 19, 23, and 25).

Angel Raii Gomez as Prince Ramiro and Sophia Maekawa as Angelina in Wolf Trap Opera’s La Cenerentola by Rossini.