from Act I, Scene 1 of the Italian opera
La Cenerentola by Gioacchino Rossini
Libretto: Jacopo Ferretti
Role: Alidoro, a philosopher and the tutor of Don Ramiro
Voice Part: bass Fach: lyric bass
Setting: The mansion of Don Magnifico
Synopsis: Don Magnifico and his daughters have been invited to the Prince's ball. Don Magnifico will not allow Cenerentola to go along, however. After the rest of the family leaves, Cenerentola is left alone with Alidoro who is in disguise as one of the King's officials. Alidoro realizes the goodness in Cenerentola and tells her that he will bring her to the ball himself. She asks him if his offer is some sort of play and he responds with this aria, saying that the whole world is a stage.