Director Peter Hall returns to Glyndebourne in triumph with his brand new production of La Cenerentola (Cinderella), his first attempt at a Rossini opera and his 20th opera for the Sussex opera house.

It tells the traditional tale of Cinderella and her attendance at Prince Charming's ball, where she falls in love and finds her husband-to-be.

Peter Hall uses no great theatrical tricks and doesn't force the comedy. What he does is tell the story in a straightforward manner, letting the humour of Perrault's original fairytale, the libretto by Jacopo Ferretti and Rossini's wonderful sparkling score get the laughs.

Vladimir Jurowaski, Glyndebourne's music director, handles the score brilliantly, repeating Rossini's excitement and vitality. The great punch of the patter songs from the London Philharmonic Orchestra add bags of colour to the action unfolding on the stage.

And that stage action is compelling. Cenerentola herself is played by the highly engaging Romanian mezzosoprano Ruxandra Donose and is subjected to much abuse by her step-sisters, Clorinda and Tisbe, and by her stepfather, Don Magnifico.

The scenes where Clorinda (American soprano Raquella Sheeran) and Tisbe (Italian mezzo Lucia Cerillo) are vying for the Prince's favours are highly memorable.

Both girls are making their British debuts, as is Russian tenor Maxim Mironov as the Prince and Lucciano Di Pasquale. He uses his marvellous base voice and vastly-padded stomach to great comic effect as the alternately fawning and nasty Don Magnifico.

This is a straightforward, hugely enjoyable production of Rossini's opera which retains some of the original nightmare terror which lurks below the surface.

It will return to Glyndebourne on tour in October and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday.

In repertory until July 16. Tickets cost £13-£155, call 01273 813813 or go to www.glyndebourne.com