The opera replaces CAN's annual Carnations for Cancer fundraiser, which has become impractical because of the high fuel prices.

CAN and FNB had held the Carnations for Cancer fundraiser for the past 18 years.

Because of high transport costs, they would have had to raise the price of carnations sold to raise funds, making them unaffordable to the public.

The opera is produced by Classical Music Promotions and all the proceeds will go to CAN.

'La Cenerentola', or 'Cinderella', by Gioacchino Rossini is the opera version of the beloved fairy-tale, with a few minor differences.

The fairy godmother is replaced by a philosopher and the glass slipper by a bracelet.

Cinderella still has a mean stepfather and two horrible stepsisters, but there are no mice pulling a pumpkin coach in the opera.

The opera is comic with showy music, which demands exceptional agility and control of the voice.

The huge orchestra is replaced by a grand piano.

It is a light music production set in the late seventies.

The main roles are filled by four well-known South African opera singers and four Namibian singers.

The cast is: Teresa de Wit as Cenerentola, Reinhard Nel as her wicked stepfather Don Magnifico di Monte Fiascone, Chris Mostert is Prince Ramiro and the prince's warden and valet Dandini is sung by Christiaan Snyman.

The Namibian singers are Hermien Coetzee and Monika Schultz as the two stepsisters Tisbe and Clorinda, the philosopher Alidoro is sung by Cobus van Lill and Ebbie Becker will do the accompaniment on the piano.

Tickets for the prestigious event will go on sale at the NTN on May 19 and cost N$200, N$300 and N$350.

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