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The story of Cinderella is beloved by all, familiar from our earliest days reading fairy tales. Rossini's opera La Cenerentola brings the tale to life with delightful music and a meaningful message. Here there is no magic, no fairy godmother. Cenerentola is discovered by the Prince's tutor Alidoro who, disguised as a beggar, sees the truth of Cenerentola's kind heart. He uses his position to get Cenerentola to the ball and ensure she wins the heart of the Prince…
Each bead and charm of the Cenerentola Opera Bracelet represents a character or moment from Rossini’s work. Some of the most important beads and charms are described below and you can see all of the symbolic descriptions on the spiral chart photo above or to the left. Also, a story chart explaining the symbolism of the beads and charms accompanies every bracelet. Click here to see the chart.
- I chose a round clear crystal for Cenerentola/Angelina, symbolizing her pure kind heart. A faceted fire opal indicates her position tending the hearth.
- Alidoro, the Prince’s tutor, who sees the truth beyond Angelina’s shabby appearance, is represented by a white cat’s eye (I often use cats eye to represent vision). A coffee cup charm symbolizes Angelina’s kindness to him.
- Grey, ivory and pink pearls represent stepfather Don Magnifico and step sisters Clorinda and Tisbe. A castle charm evokes their excitement about the royal ball.
- A gold crystal represents Prince Ramiro; a plain gold glass bead is his double/valet Dandini.
- A large heart bead with cupid’s arrow symbolizes the moment when Prince Ramiro and Angelina fall in love at first sight.
- A flowered turquoise bead symbolizes Dandini’s aria "Come un'ape ne' giorni d'aprile" in which he compares himself to a bee visiting flowers.
- A blue teardrop symbolizes Angelina begging to be allowed to go to the ball. A black disc is Don Magnifico’s cruel refusal. But Alidoro sorts things out and sends her to the ball in the Royal Coach (charm). No one recognizes her in her finery (princess charm).
- A red glass heart represents Ramiro’s aria "Si, ritrovarla io giuro" in which he declares that love will be his guide to finding Angelina again.
- A lightning bolt evokes the storm that brings the lovers back together.
- Gold hoops represent Cenerentola’s matching bracelets which guide the Ramiro back to her. A large flowered heart is the flowering of their love when the Ramiro finds Angelina again.
- A series of beads with a crown charm, symbolizes Angelina’s final aria. A gold/yellow rose is her forgiveness to her family, a blue teardrop is her sorrow and a delicate heart is her joy, a crystal bi-cone the “flash of light” in which her fate has been transformed.
