A Lively ‘La Cenerentola’ in San Diego

Ensemble casting and the light-footed but sensitive staging of a debutant director made the latest San Diego Opera production of Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” a jolly occasion at the opening in Civic Theatre Saturday night.

The singers, generally respected but not famous names in the world of opera, took a long time to warm up, but performed well once at the simmering point. The staging by a newcomer to San Diego Opera, Linda Brovsky, regularly amused, yet astutely avoided gimmicks or cartoonishness in the composer’s semi-buffo retelling of the Cinderella story.

Brovsky did not hesitate in moments to have some of her characters kick up their feet and act like hoofers; the anachronistic use of Broadway cliches did not offend, however. Rossini’s wondrous score, on this occasion decently re-created if not heavily ornamented, emerged as bubbly, warmhearted and irresistible as ever in the solid hands of conductor Karen Keltner and her resourceful, neatly balanced orchestra and a talented cast.

If that cast lacked dramatic charisma, it gave full value to the musical requirements of the piece. And it produced an opening-night performance of surprising polish.

Perhaps best of the lot is the Dandini of Erich Parce--he had taken the title role in the company’s revival of “The Passion of Jonathan Wade” last month--who sang, moved and reacted to his stage colleagues with a delightful projection of tone and humor, and sounded easy and resonant in every moment. Margaret Lattimore, replacing in the last few weeks the originally announced leading singer, made a beauteous and virtuosic Cinderella in the last act, a nonmagnetic, undistinctive Angelica in the opening scenes.

Kevin Langan sang splendidly as the mysterious Godfather, Alidoro, but failed to command the stage--perhaps more sheer energy would have made the difference. Bradley Williams’ Prince, Don Ramiro, proved a cadet in every wise: vocally and histrionically charming, but smallish and limited.

Evelyn de la Rosa and Carter Scott sang the roles of the two sisters, Clorinda and Tisbe, with that same vocal stridency and dramatic shallowness that has now become traditional in these parts; there are other, equally amusing, ways to do it. Francois Loup, who took the same role in the 1987 production of this work at L.A. Music Center Opera, repeated his stock impersonation of Don Magnifico. Without personal and rethought touches, such an impersonation falls flat.

The scenery and costumes of Claude Girard and Bernard Uzan, borrowed from L’Opera de Montreal, remain economical but charming--light, airy and atmospheric. Ron Vodicka is the imaginative lighting designer. The excellent chorus is the handiwork of Martin Wright.

* San Diego Opera’s “La Cenerentola” will be repeated Tuesday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. All performances in San Diego Civic Theatre, 202 C St., San Diego. (619) 232-7636. Tickets: $23-$95.