“La Cenerentola”

The classic Cinderella story has hundreds of variants. Many know of the story’s darker versions and their more whimsical modern-day counterparts, but those unfamiliar with opera may be surprised to learn that a Cinderella story is part of the standard repertoire.

Michigan State University Opera Theatre will stage “La Cenerentola,” an early-19th-century opera by Gioachino Rossini, 7 p.m. tonight (March 26), Friday (March 28) and Saturday (March 29) and 3 p.m. Sunday (March 30) at the school’s Fairchild Theatre. The opera will be performed in its original Italian with English subtitles.

“Rossini’s delightful take on the Cinderella story touches on timeless themes of love, resilience and transformation,” MSU Opera Theatre director Melanie Helton said.

The classic story’s supernatural elements are replaced in this version, including the fairy godmother, who is instead a wise tutor. Originally an attempt to simplify the stage production, the unique version of the story has come to distinguish “La Cenerentola.”

Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $7 for students. They can be purchased online at music.msu.edu or by phone at (517) 353-5340.