Libretto by Kanstantin Kuzmiatsou after Charles Perrault's fairy tale

Musical director:  Yuri Karavaev

Choreography and staging: People’s Artist of Belarus Kanstantsin Kuzniatsou, Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus Yuliya Dziatko

Set designers: People's Artist of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Okunev, Lyubov Sidelnikova       

Costume designer: People's Artist of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Okunev

Lighting designer: Evgenii Lisitsyn

Computer graphics: Pavel Suvorov

Act I

Scene 1

What could be better than sitting in a chair by the fireplace surrounded by grandchildren and reading them fairy tales? And, in the glow of the warm fire, mentally traveling to a place where magic happens and amazing adventures take place...

We are in the room of two sisters who spend their time doing the most natural thing for them: arguing. Their mother, who cannot do with lengthy disputes, enters the room due to the noise. 

And here's Cinderella, the stepsister of the capricious girls. She is forced to do all the household chores and the dirtiest jobs. Finally, Cinderella has a moment to catch her breath. She moves an inconspicuous curtain by the fireplace, revealing her main treasure: the portrait of her mother, who passed away several years ago. How she misses her mother's love and care... But the Stepmother is adamant: no reminiscing until all the work is done! 

There are countless things to do: the Couturier, the Dance Instructor - everyone is busy preparing for the ball. Everyone is ready, it's time to go. Everyone except Cinderella! While helping her Stepmother and sisters, she didn't have time to take care of herself. But suddenly the Fairy with her entourage appears out of rays of light. Fairy’s students bring in an enormous pumpkin. With a wave of the magic wand, the pumpkin opens, revealing a marvelous dress and a pair of glass slippers.

The Fairy reminds that Cinderella must leave the ball when the clock strikes midnight.

The pumpkin turns into a coach. Cinderella is on her way! But Fairy's assistants realize that Cinderella forgot her new glass slippers in the rush and hurry after her.

Scene 2

There is a fuss in the palace. The Master of Ceremonies hurries his assistants.! Ceremonial music plays, the King and guests enter the hall. Among the guests are the Stepmother and her daughters. They try to attract the King's attention, but the King is clearly unimpressed by their "talents." The announcement of the Prince's arrival, saves the King from annoying guests. 

A new guest arrives at the ball, everyone is amazed by her beauty and grace. The Grand Waltz begins. The Prince and Cinderella cannot stop talking; it feels easy and natural, as if they have known each other for a thousand years.

The Fairy's assistants, having sneaked into the ball, try to persuade Cinderella to put on the slippers, but she waves them aside. Cinderella is happy, and all her sorrows seem so distant!

The Prince wants to impress Cinderella and offers her rare fruits: oranges. Cinderella modestly refuse the gift, but the Stepmother and sisters, not recognizing their sister in the beautiful guest, beg for this rarity for themselves. 

Cinderella wants to dance just a little longer, but time is inexorable. She rushes to leave the hall without even saying goodbye to the Prince.

The Fairy's students, who haven't yet given Cinderella the slippers, run after her, and in the rush, drop one slipper on the stairs. The courtiers pick up the slipper. The beautiful stranger disappeared like a vision. This slipper is the only reminder that the encounter with the beautiful stranger was not a dream.

Act II

Scene 3

There’s a council in the palace. The King cannot bear to see his son so sad: if the Prince wants to be happy, he will have to make an effort. And besides, if they have one slipper, there must be another one somewhere! Finding the owner of the other slipper will be a trivial task.

A long journey begins. Cities and countries follow one another... And not a single girl fits the slipper. But the Prince is determined to find his love.

Scene 4

Cinderella's room. The ball is over, and her life is full of loneliness again. The only thing that keeps her from despair is her faith in miracles and the memory of the Prince. The Fairy's students secretly hide the second slipper in the laundry basket.

The Stepmother and sisters, who have returned from the ball, enter the room. They hurry to boast about their evening to Cinderella. Suddenly, the Prince and his friends appear in the house. 

The sisters try on the slipper one by one, but without success. The frustrated Stepmother pushes them aside and tries to put the slipper on her own foot. And then, failure again! Cinderella returns to the room, hoping to slip by the Prince unnoticed.

The Prince notices her. He insists that she tries on the slipper. In a fit of rage, the Stepmother pushes the Prince, the slipper flies out of his hand, frightened Cinderella drops the basket, and... (oh, miracle!) the second slipper falls out of the basket. However, the Prince no longer looks at the slippers or her feet; he looks into his beloved's eyes. He's been looking for so long, but she was so close to him; he just needed to listen to his heart!

In the end, a Fairy must appear to bless the lovers. Let it be so with us.

...What could be better than sitting in a chair by the fireplace surrounded by grandchildren and reading them fairy tales? And in the glow of the warm fire, mentally traveling to a place where magic happens and amazing adventures take place... What could be better than being with those you love?

.