The opera “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) was written by Rossini in just three weeks when he was 25 years of age, about a year after “The Barber of Seville”. Being a version of the Cinderella story, it premiered in Rome’s Teatro Valle in January, 1817 and, despite an unfavourable initial reception, has since remained one the most popular operas of all time.

Very little is known about Jean Remusat. He was an orchestral flute player who wrote only a small number of works including flute methods, several arrangements and this charming introduction and variations on a theme from Rossini’s “La Cenerentola”. In this arrangement, the piano accompaniment (probably Leduc’s contribution) has been adapted for string quartet. I have also taken the liberty of including same additional ornamentation and some alterations in the dynamics from the source.