Left alone with Cenerentola, Alidoro promises to take her to the ball himself, and that God will reward her kindness ("Là del ciel nell’arcano profondo"). Ferretti, despite harboring some ill-will against Rossini (the maestro had refused a libretto of his for Finally, between yawns, and with Rossini half asleep on a sofa, the poet mentioned Ferretti worked through the night and had the first parts of the work ready as promised in the morning.

La Cenerentola, ACT I . Within the palace and dressed as a princess, Angelina is approached by Magnifico begging for her favor. The ladies are outraged at the idea of marrying a servant. When Ramiro threatens Cenerentola's recalcitrant family, she asks him to forgive them. He reminds his daughters that when either of them marries the prince and takes the throne, they mustn't forget about his importance. Prince Ramiro disguises himself as his valet and enters to house to observe the family. Inside the defunct mansion of Don Magnifico, Angelina (Cenerentola, aka Cinderella) is busy working as the family's maid, while her stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisby, are trying on dresses and jewelry.
Courtiers follow, announcing that Prince Ramiro will come to visit while he searches for the most beautiful girl in the land to wed. Cenerentola's stepfather, Don Magnifico, hopes to use this as an opportunity to save his own failing fortune. Aaron M. Green is an expert on classical music and music history, with more than 10 years of both solo and ensemble performance experience. If he really cares for her, she says, he will find her, giving him one of a matching pair of bracelets. The two lovers depart and Aldorino couldn't be happier with the turn of events. Cinderella is identified not by a glass slipper but by her bracelet. A beggar arrives; her stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisbe, want to send him away, but Cenerentola gives him bread and coffee. Once the men are in accordance with his wishes, he orders them to find the woman with the matching bracelet.

Ramiro is confused after Dandini tells him that the two sisters are practically stupid because Alidoro insisted that one of Magnifico's daughters was extremely kind and genuine. He was a famous man all over Europe and his greatest success, the Barbiere di Siviglia, was less than 2 years ago.

Dandini offers Ramiro to serve as their escort, but they reject the offer, still unaware that Ramiro is the real prince. Expectedly, Don Magnifico, Clorinda, and Tisby protest angrily. When a beggar shows up at their door, Clorinda and Tisby try and send him away, but Angelina graciously offers him a cup of coffee and bread to eat. By using LiveAbout, you accept ourThe Cinderella Ballet: A Synopsis of the Cinderella Ballet - Act 1

He invites the family to a ball that evening, where he plans to find his bride; Cenerentola asks to join them, but Magnifico refuses (quintet: "Signor, una parola").

Alidoro sabotages Ramiro's carriage so that it breaks down in front of Magnifico's manor, forcing the prince to take refuge within.
Dandini confesses his true identity as the prince's valet, but Don Magnifico doesn't believe him. Her stepfamily eerily feels they know her as if in a past life, but they cannot make the connection.

Back in Don Magnifico's mansion, Angelina, dressed in her rags, is cleaning as usual and tending the fire. The "beggar" - in fact, his tutor, Alidoro - has informed him of a goodhearted young woman spotted here. Dandini begins to court her and asks her to marry him, but she gracefully declines. Cenerentola returns, and she and Ramiro are attracted to each other (duet: "Un soave non-so che"), but when he asks who she is, she's overwhelmed and flees.

When Magnifico becomes disgruntled, Dandini is quick to kick him out of the palace. They exchange longing glances until the stepsisters call her away. Alidoro, still in his rags, returns to inquire after a third daughter in the house; Magnifico claims she has died. Magnifico tries to win the favor of the new princess, but she asks only to be acknowledged, at last, as his daughter. Once Dandini, Magnifico, Clorinda, and Tisby arrive at the prince's palace, Dandini gives Magnifico a tour of the wine cellar in an effort to get him drunk. When he sits down, they instantly recognize each another. This callousness isn't lost on Ramiro. The supernatural elements that traditionally characterize the Cinderella story were removed from the libretto, simply for ease of staging.