The opera is loosely based on the famous fairy tale. Cinderella is working as a servant in her step-father’s house, which she occupies with her two ugly step-sisters, Clorinda and Thisbe. Alidoro, a philosopher and counsellor to Prince Ramiro, enters, disguised as a beggar, and is immediately ordered out by the sisters. Cinderella, however, takes pity on him and gives him something to eat and drink. The servants of Prince Ramiro arrive to invite the sisters to a grand ball, and when Don Magnifico comes in, the sisters tell him of the invitation. He becomes excited at the opportunity of marrying one of them to the Prince. They all go off to their rooms to get dressed, and Prince Ramiro, disguised as his valet Dandini enters. He sees Cinderella and is immediately attracted to her beauty and innocence (as she is to him), but the sisters quickly call her away to help them with their finery. Dandini arrives disguised as the Prince and, although his social gaffes amuse Ramiro, Don Magnifico and his two ugly daughters are completely captivated. Cinderella begs her step-father to be allowed to go to the ball-for only an hour – but he refuses, saying she is a servant. Alidoro asks if there are not supposed to be three daughters in the house, but Magnifico says the other daughter is dead. All of them go off to the ball, and Alidoro tells Cinderella he will see to it that she goes also.

In a room in the palace Dandini and Ramiro wonder why Alidoro suggested they go to Magnifico’s house, since both the daughters are so ugly. The sisters descend on the “Prince,” each hoping to snare him, but suddenly Alidoro announces the arrival of an unknown lady of great beauty. Ramiro thinks he recognizes her voice, and the sisters exclaim on how much she looks like their servant, Cinderella, and are highly annoyed at her unwelcome intrusion.

The two sisters quarrel as to which one should get the Prince and which one he loves. Dandini meanwhile has been smitten with the beautiful unknown lady and (as the Prince) proposes to her. Cinderella, however, declines his offer, saying she is in love with his valet. Ramiro, who has been listening, is overjoyed and himself proposes, but Cinderella says he must find out who she is, and she gives him a bracelet which matches one she wears, then leaves. Magnifico comes in and asks the “Prince” if he has chosen his bride. Dandini determines exactly how much dowry Magnifico will pay and then tells him that he is not the Prince, but only a valet in disguise. Magnifico is furious.

Cinderella has returned to her duties as a servant, and Magnifico and his daughters are convinced that she could not have been the unknown lady who came to the ball. A storm arises, and Dandini (now a valet) and the Prince take refuge in Magnifico’s house. Magnifico orders Cinderella to bring the Prince a chair, and she brings it to Dandini. Magnifico corrects her, and she realizes with whom she is in love. In her embarrassment, she allows Ramiro to see the matching bracelet on her arm. Ramiro claims her as his bride, much to the discomfiture of the sisters and of Don Magnifico.

At the gala wedding ceremony Cinderella, good-hearted as always, asks that her step-father and step-sisters be forgiven, and the opera ends happily.