Special pricing, family 4-packs, and post-show meet & greets make opera an enchanting outing for all ages
Hampton Roads, Richmond, Fairfax, VA (Oct. 9, 2025) – Virginia Opera invites families to discover the world of opera with Rossini’s sparkling retelling of the beloved fairytale Cinderella (La Cenerentola) this November in Norfolk, Richmond, and Fairfax. Perfect for first-time audiences, Cinderella blends dazzling music, comic twists, and a timeless story of kindness rewarded ― all in a live theatrical experience that children and adults can enjoy together.
To make attending more accessible, Virginia Opera is offering special family pricing:
- Family 4-Pack: Any four tickets for $250 (plus fees) – available for Norfolk and Richmond
- Build-Your-Own Bundle: Children’s tickets are 50% off, allowing families to create a package that fits their budget.
In addition, families can enjoy a special meet & greet with Cinderella and the Prince after Sunday matinee performances in each city:
- Norfolk – November 9
- Richmond – November 16
- Fairfax – November 23
Children can take selfies with the fairytale couple, creating a magical memory to treasure.
Virginia Opera is proud to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for families. For the comfort of all guests, our venues require that every attendee (adult or child) has a ticket and that children under age 5 are not admitted. This ensures an enjoyable experience for families with school-aged children attending their first opera.
“Rossini’s Cinderella is full of charm, humor, and breathtaking music that speaks across generations,” said Adam Turner, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Virginia Opera. “It’s an ideal production for families new to opera ― children will be captivated by the fairytale story, while adults will be thrilled by the vocal fireworks and the beauty of live performance.”
About the Production
Cinderella (La Cenerentola)
Gioachino Rossini
Performances conducted by Adam Turner (Norfolk and Richmond) and Brandon Eldredge (Fairfax)
Directed by David Lefkowich
Mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali stars as Angelina (Cinderella) following her acclaimed Virginia Opera debut last season in the titular role of Carmen. Critics hailed her performance as “a not-to-be-missed, bang-up performance” (The Virginian-Pilot) and her voice as “a beautiful instrument, lovely lows that can soar thrillingly” (OperaGene).
Tenor David Walton returns to Virginia Opera, reprising his 2019–2020 role as Prince Ramiro. DC Theater Arts praised his earlier performance: “Walton provided graceful vocal lines… his Ramiro is a genuinely nice guy, unpretentious, lacking in arrogance, who sees the hearts of people rather than their surfaces.”
Joining the cast is former Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist baritone Patrick Wilhelm as Dandini, following his recent mainstage debuts as Masetto (Don Giovanni) and Le Dancaïre (Carmen). Baritone Levi Hernandez returns to perform the role of Don Magnifico, having last appeared with Virginia Opera as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly (2011, 2019).
Making his Virginia Opera debut is bass Isaiah Musik-Ayala as Alidoro. His voice has been described by The New York Times as “burly and resonant” and by San Francisco Classical Voice as “commanding and compelling.” Current Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists soprano Maggie Kinabrew and mezzo-soprano Melanie Dubil complete the cast as the stepsisters Clorinda and Tisbe.
Stage direction will be by David Lefkowich, praised as “high-energy… with a firehose of ideas about making opera more popular and accessible” (Minneapolis Star Tribune).
Performance Dates
- Norfolk: Friday, November 7 at 7:30 PM & Sunday, November 9 at 2:30 PM
- Richmond: Friday, November 14 at 7:30 PM & Sunday, November 16 at 2:30 PM
- Fairfax: Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 PM & Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 PM
Tickets and family packages are available now at vaopera.org/cinderella.
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About Virginia Opera
Virginia Opera, the official opera company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is one of the finest regional opera companies in the nation and is the only company to perform regularly in three separate main stage venues: the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and the Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax. Organized in 1974, Virginia Opera is respected nationwide for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists, for the musical and dramatic integrity of its productions, and for the ingenuity and variety of its education and outreach programs.
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