Rossini: La Cenerentola

Rossini's La Cenerentola is a Cinderella story with a difference: no fairy godmothers or magic spells here. But what it does have is a big heart, and amid all the vocal fireworks and satirical wit, Rossini's rags-to-riches comedy emerges as one of his most loveable – and beloved – operas. Peter Hall's classic Glyndebourne production doesn't shy away from the story's darker moments, but it's packed with playfulness and warmth, too, and this 2005 performance could hardly be more perfectly cast. "A truly marvellous performance on all counts," wrote Gramophone, and Vladimir Jurowski's conducting adds its own special transparency and sparkle.