The Sleeping Beauty
ballet-féerie in three acts, a prologue and an apotheosis
music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Cast
Prince Desire — Andrey Yakhnyuk
Lilac Fairy — Olga Stepanova
Fairy Carabosse — Maxim Podosyonov
Conductor — Valentin Bogdanov
This is one of Tchaikovsky’s finest compositions and a gem of Imperial Russian ballet preserved through generations of dancers from its original 1890 staging in St Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theatre.
The ballet’s palatial setting recalls the grandeur of a bygone aristocratic world, of courtiers, complicated courtship and elegant aesthetics. The well known story is perfectly expressed through dance: from the princess’s hesitant first steps at her 16th-birthday party, to her triumphant balances with her four suitors.
The ballet differs from the fairytale as it is commonly known, notably in the role of the Lilac Fairy, one of the guests at the Princess Aurora’s Christening. She acts as a benevolent counter figure to the wicked fairy Carabosse. The Lilac Fairy reverses Carabosse’s curse and promises that the Princess Aurora will not die when she pricks her finger, as Carabosse intends, but fall into a deep sleep. True love’s kiss wakes her to the endless dance of an enchanted world.
The fantastical world of fairytale comes ever more alive in the final act as an array of fictional characters takes the stage, including Puss-in-Boots, Red Riding Hood, and the Bluebird.
Prologue
King Florestan and Queen are celebrating the christening of their daughter, Princess Aurora. The court is waiting for the appearance of the King and the Queen. Catalabutte, the Master of Ceremonies, is revising the guest list. The feast begins. The Lilac Fairy, the godmother of the Princess, appears surrounded by good fairies who bring different gifts for the baby.
Frightened servants tell about the appearance of the evil Fairy Carabosse who hasn’t been invited by mistake of Catalabutte. King and Queen are worried expecting the worst.
Enraged Carabosse escorted by her monstrous entourage comes in a cart. How did they dare to forget her? Carabosse willing to revenge predicts that Princess Aurora due to the gifts of the good fairies will become the most beautiful and the smartest of all the princesses but once she will prick her finger with a spindle and die.
The Lilac Fairy who hasn’t given her gift to the Princess yet alleviates the prophecy of Carabosse. Princess Aurora shall not die as Carabosse wished but will fall in a deep sleep and shall be awakened by a young Prince enchanted by the sleeping beauty.
Act I
Princess Aurora has turned sixteen. King and Queen are celebrating her birthday. Noble guests are coming to the palace to seek the Princess’ hand. The princes are introduced to Princess Aurora. She is nice to all of them, ready to dance with everyone but she doesn’t favour any of them. An old lady with a strange thing in her hands attracts Aurora’s attention. The Princess takes the spindle from the old lady and starts playing and dancing with it. Suddenly she pricks her finger and falls senseless. The old lady is the Fairy Carabosse. She is triumphant. The princes rush at her with their swords but the evil Fairy disappears.
The Lilac Fairy, the godmother of the Princess, consoles Aurora’s parents: Princess Aurora shall not die but will fall asleep for one hundred years. And everybody in the kingdom will fall asleep after her. In one hundred years the Princess will be awakened and the magic condemnation will loose its power. At a wave of a wand the whole court falls asleep; a dense lilac garden grows up around the castle.
Act II
Scene 1
One hundred years has passed. Prince Désiré, his friends and courtiers are hunting in the forest. The hunters and ladies are enjoying themselves. Once Prince Désiré is alone, the Lilac Fairy appears. She shows him a vision of Princess Aurora. The Prince is charmed by her but when he tries to follow the Princess she disappears. The Prince is longing to see the Princess in reality.
The Lilac Fairy and Prince Désiré are sailing in a boat to the sleeping castle. A dense forest is around them. Through the lilac garden they can see the towers of the castle.
Scene 2
The evil Fairy Carabosse and her servants are in the garden. They are going to stop anybody who will try to come to the castle. Suddenly they hear the music signifying the arrival of the Lilac Fairy. Carabosse has no might against the Lilac Fairy.
Prince Désiré has come to the castle. He is trying to find Princess Aurora among the sleeping courtiers. Prince Désiré kisses the sleeping beauty, Aurora awakes. The entire kingdom awakes with the Princess. Enchanted by the beauty and charm of Princess Aurora Prince Désiré asks the King and the Queen for her hand in marriage.
Act III
King Florestan’s palace. The wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré is celebrated. Many guests are coming to congratulate the newlyweds. The fairy-tale characters parade: Bluebeard and his wives, Princess Florine and the Blue Bird, Puss in Boots and the White Cat, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Tom Thumb with his brothers followed by the Ogre, Cinderella loosing her shoe and Prince Fortuné finding it. The Diamond, Sapphire, Gold and Silver Fairies are congratulating Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré. The happy newlyweds are dancing. The story of love is crowned with victory of the good. The Lilac Fairy appears in the palace. All her kind promises have come true!
Choreography: Marius Petipa revised by Fyodor Lopukhov, Konstantin Sergeyev, Pyotr Gusev
Artistic Director of the production: Nikolay Boyarchikov
Set Designer: Vyacheslav Okunev
Costume Design: Irina Press
Consultants: Alla Shelest, Valentina Rumyantseva
