0:00:13 > 0:00:19It is the classic tale of the poor young girl who marries her prince.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Told in every land throughout the mists of time,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25it epitomises the triumph of goodness and grace
0:00:25 > 0:00:27over injustice and oppression.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30We know it, of course, as Cinderella.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33There are hundreds of versions of the story.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Some can be traced back to ancient Greece, others to the Far East,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41to medieval Europe. she even appears in American-Indian folklore.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46But the version we're most familiar with comes from 17th-century France,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49from a children's book by Charles Perrault
0:00:49 > 0:00:52in which the poor, unloved step-daughter Cinderella
0:00:52 > 0:00:56is sleeping in the attic and doing all the harshest household chores,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00while her overbearing step-sisters live a life of luxury.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08The Italian composer Rossini was the first to set this story as an opera
0:01:08 > 0:01:09called La Cenerentola.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13It took him just three weeks to write and was an instant success.
0:01:13 > 0:01:14But what we're about to see
0:01:14 > 0:01:18would have surpassed even Rossini's wildest dreams.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21It's been created by legendary Italian producer Andrea Andermann,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24who's famous for taking us out of the opera house
0:01:24 > 0:01:27and into the most stunning real-life locations.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32So, we are in some of the most beautiful palaces and gardens in Turin.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Why Turin? Well, this is where the King of Italy actually lived
0:01:36 > 0:01:38so if you were looking for your Prince Charming,
0:01:38 > 0:01:39you'd find him here.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42Four locations were used -
0:01:42 > 0:01:44the Venaria Reale,
0:01:44 > 0:01:46the Mandria Park,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48the Royal Palace
0:01:48 > 0:01:54and here, the magnificent 18th-century Stupinigi royal hunting lodge.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58What's more, this special adaptation of Rossini's opera was filmed live,
0:01:58 > 0:01:59over two days in June,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02and at the time of day the scenes in the story occur.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05And, yes, that includes the famous ballroom scene,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09which took place here in this dazzling ballroom,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12exactly as the clock struck midnight.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Now, this opera - which is a comedy -
0:02:21 > 0:02:25features some of Rossini's most beautiful and witty music.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38At its heart is Cinderella, who's called Angelina in Rossini's opera
0:02:38 > 0:02:42and is performed by the Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Lena Belkina.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01The opera starts, not surprisingly, with an overture -
0:03:01 > 0:03:03that age-old device to grab our attention
0:03:03 > 0:03:05and get us into the spirit of the piece.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07But you have a treat in store
0:03:07 > 0:03:10because in this production the overture leads us right into
0:03:10 > 0:03:15the heart of Cinderella's world using some very beautiful animation
0:03:15 > 0:03:18to introduce the characters and the story.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20It is a device that works really well
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and is interwoven throughout the whole opera.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27The story begins with Cinderella's early, happy childhood,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30before the famous fairytale.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33So, are you sitting comfortably? Then let's begin.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35This is Rossini's Cenerentola.
2:02:05 > 2:02:09Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing by Red Bee Media Ltd