San Antonio’s opera season is about to begin with a fairy tale! OPERA San Antonio opens its 2026-2027 season with Rossini’s sparkling “Cinderella” (“La Cenerentola”) on October 15 and 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
This beloved fairy tale gets a fresh, playful twist in a charming new production from Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Rossini’s version lets Cinderella shape her own destiny, with witty comedy, dazzling vocal fireworks, and a sparkling score that has delighted audiences for more than two centuries. The production is sung in Italian, with English translations projected above the stage so everyone can follow every joke and every tender moment. The evening runs three hours, including one intermission.
The production brings together a wonderful creative team: conductor Francesco Milioto leads the performance in collaboration with The Orchestra San Antonio, with stage direction by Michael Shell. And here’s a lovely bonus for the curious: one hour before each performance, OPERA San Antonio offers a free pre-show lecture in the Tobin Center’s Feik Rotunda, open to all ticket holders — a perfect way to discover the story behind the music before the curtain rises.
Single tickets are on sale now, so this is the perfect moment to plan a magical night out and celebrate the return of live opera to downtown San Antonio.
Photo: OPERA San Antonio
