Cinderella:  The Story  
The action takes place partly in the house of Don Magnifico and partly in the palace of the Prince. 

            Although the story of Cinderella is a familiar one, Rossini addresses comic as well as romantic elements in his opera, Cinderella.  The prince and the heroine fall in love, but with many mistaken identities and mishaps along the way.  Their romance is assisted not by a fairy godmother, but by a philosopher, Alidoro, who is a friend and counselor to the Prince.            

The first scene happens in the house of Cinderella's father, the Baron of Montefiascone.  Cinderella, who is shunned by her stepsisters has been reduced to the role of a maid, takes pity on a beggar, who is actually the Prince's friend Alidoro in disguise.  Cinderella and the Prince meet and fall in love while he is disguised as his own valet, Dandini, delivering invitations to the ball he is about to give.  Meanwhile, Cinderella's stepsisters, Clorinda and Thisbe, decide that the Prince must surely fall prey to their charms, but little do they know that the person they think is the Prince is actually the valet Dandini, who has switched places with his master.  Cinderella pleads with her father and sisters to go to the Prince's ball, but they will not listen to her and tell her to clean the house instead.  However, the beggar, who is really Alidoro, agrees to help her.

            The next scene takes place at the Prince's palace, at the ball.  The Prince, who is still disguised as Dandini the valet, has discovered that Clorinda and Thisbe could never make him happy, but is enthralled with the arrival of a beautiful but unknown lady, who is actually Cinderella.  Clorinda and Thisbe are dreadfully jealous of the unknown lady, especially since she reminds them of Cinderella, and therefore try even harder to capture the heart of Dandini, whom they still believe to be the Prince. 

            This brings us to Act II.  Don Magnifico has been appointed by Dandini as the supervisor of his cellars and with the aid of the men of the court, writes a decree stating that the wine should not be watered down.  During the next scene Dandini asks Cinderella to marry him.  However, she declines, confessing that she is actually in love with his "valet".  The Prince overhears her, and comes forth with his own proposal.  Cinderella tells him that he must find out her true identity before she can consent to marry him, although she loves him.  She gives him a bracelet which matches one she is wearing.  Dandini, in the meantime, confesses to the girls' father that he is a mere valet and not a prince at all, and so cannot marry any of his daughters.