Photography

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Alyssa Stone, teaching artist in the education department for Seattle Opera, reads the story of Cinderella during the "La Cenerentola" Open House at McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center Saturday. The day was filled with Cinderella-themed children's activities, including dancing, singing and crafts as well as a "Cinderella's Ball" at noon. Seattle Opera put on the educational event to introduce children to La Cenerentola, the opera by Rossini, running January 12th through January 26th. There is a special Family Day matinee on Sunday January 20th that reduces the price of every child's ticket to $15 per adult ticket purchase.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Igor Schubin of Redmond, center, bows to his daughter Neta, 7, and Adam Yarnell, right, of Kent bows to his daughter Evalyn, 5, during a dance lesson for the "La Cenerentola" Open House.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi, playing the role of Don Magnifico, Cinderella's pompous stepfather, demonstrates "patter singing." Carfizzi's most recent role in Seattle was as Ping in Turandot. Patter song, popularized by Gilbert and Sullivan, is a tongue-twisting, uptempo style of singing with percussive alliteration.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Brooke Shirts, right, of Shoreline lines up her kids William, 5, left, Jeffrey, 10, and Eleanor, 7, for a picture in rat hats they made during the event.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Joan Font of Barcelona, center, the director of "La Cenerentola," colors with his daughter Joana Font Aguilera, 4, and wife Maite Aguilera, left. This is the seventh production of "La Cenerentola" Font has directed, starting in Barcelona and traveling to cities like Geneva and Houston. Font is Catalan and founded "Els Comediants," a commedia-dell'arte style of street performers.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Ruthie Morrison, 7, of Seattle and her mother, Miriam, work on a paper doll.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Alyssa Stone, teaching artist in the education department for Seattle Opera, leads a call-and-response song.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Children take in the opera performances during the event. Approximately 500 parents and children were in attendance for the activities and performances.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Mezzo-Soprano Karin Mushegain, one of two alternating singers in the title role of Cinderella, performs for a rapt audience.