The Sleeping Beauty

From the Royal Ballet, London, England

Conducted by Boris Gruzin
Choreographed by Marius Petipa
Starring Lauren Cuthbertson and Sergei Polunin
2 hrs 50 mins plus one intermission

The Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of classical ballet: a perfect marriage of Petipa’s choreography, Tchaikovsky’s music and a glorious challenge for every dancer onstage. It is also The Royal Ballet’s signature work. Today’s Sleeping Beauty features additional choreography by Anthony Dowell, Christopher Wheeldon and Frederick Ashton, and stars Lauren Cuthbertson & Sergei Polunin.

Program Note
First staged in St Petersburg in 1890, The Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of classical ballet: a perfect marriage of Petipa’s choreography and Tchaikovsky’s music and a glorious challenge for every dancer onstage. It is also The Royal Ballet’s signature work. To mark the Company’s 75th birthday in 2006, Monica Mason and Christopher Newton revitalized its landmark 1946 production, which re-established Petipa’s choreography, as recorded by Imperial Ballet régisseur Nicholas Sergeyev, to a scenario and staging developed by Ninette de Valois herself. With Oliver Messel’s gorgeous original designs wonderfully re-imagined by Peter Farmer, and additional choreography by Anthony Dowell, Christopher Wheeldon and Frederick Ashton, today’s Sleeping Beauty not only captures the mood of the original but shows that this is very much a living work for The Royal Ballet, growing and changing with the Company while celebrating its past.

SYNOPSIS

Prologue – The Christening

King Florestan XXIV and his Queen have invited all the fairies to be godmothers at the christening of their daughter, Princess Aurora. The fairies arrive with presents but the proceedings are interrupted by Carabosse, the Wicked Fairy. In her anger at not being invited she gives Aurora a spindle, saying that one day the Princess will prick her finger on it and die. The Lilac Fairy, who has yet to bestow her gift, promises that Aurora will not die but fall into a deep sleep, from which she will be woken by a prince’s kiss.

Short pause

Act I – The Spell

It is Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday and four princes come to vie for her hand in marriage. Three women are discovered by Cattalabutte to have knitting needles. He is horrified as all needles and pins have been banned from the castle, and King Florestan, in his fury, decrees that the women must die. The Queen pleads for mercy so the King relents.

An old woman gives Aurora a spindle and, curious, she plays with it. Pricking her finger she falls in a dead faint. The old woman reveals herself to be Carabosse and after reminding everyone of her spell, vanishes. The Lilac Fairy appears and casts a spell of sleep over everyone and causes a thick forest to grow over the palace.

Intermission

Act II – The Vision

One hundred years later, Prince Florimund is hunting in the forest with members of his court. A stag is sighted and the company pursue it, leaving the young Prince behind to dream pensively of an ideal love. The Lilac Fairy appears and shows him a vision of Princess Aurora. Florimund implores her to take him to where she sleeps. Outside the palace gates they are met by Carabosse, whom the Lilac Fairy repells. At last Prince Florimund awakens Princess Aurora with a kiss – the spell is broken and Carabosse is finally vanquished.

ACT III – The Wedding

Fairytale characters come to the wedding of Prince Florimund and Princess Aurora. They all join in the celebrations and the Lilac Fairy blesses the marriage.

CAST

King Florestan XXIV Gary Avis

His Queen Genesia Rosato

Princess Aurora Lauren Cuthbertson

Prince Florimund Sergei Polunin

Cattalabutte (Master of Ceremonies) Alastair Marriott

Carabosse Kristen McNally

Lilac Fairy Claire Calvert

Prologue

Fairy of the Crystal Fountain Yuhui Choe

Her Cavalier Jonathan Watkins

Fairy of the Enchanted Garden Beatriz Stix-Brunell

Her Cavalier Andre Juspenski

Fairy of the Woodland Glade Fumi Kaneko

Her Cavalier Dawid Trzensimiech

Fairy of the Song Bird Iohna Loots

Her Cavalier Bennet Gartside

Fairy of the Golden Vine Emma Maguire

Her Cavalier Alexander Campbell

Lilac Fairy’s Cavalier Ryoichi Hirano

Lilac Fairy’s attendants, Carabosse’s attendants, Courtiers, Heralds Artists of The Royal Ballet, Students of The Royal Ballet School

ACT I

The English Prince Nehemiah Kish

The French Prince Johannes Stepanek

The Indian Prince Eric Underwood

The Russian Prince Andre J Upenski

Princess Aurora’s Friends Olivia Cowley, Melissa Hamilton, Elizabeth Harrod, Iohna Loots, Emma Maguire, Samantha Raine, Lara Turk, Sabina Westcombe

Knitting women, Garland dancers, Courtiers Artists of The Royal Ballet, Students of The Royal Ballet School

ACT II

The Countess Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani

Gallison Philip Mosley

The Prince’s entourage, hunt attendants, nymphs Artists of The Royal Ballet, Students of The Royal Ballet School

ACT III

Florestan and his Sisters Dawid Trzensimiech, Emma Maguire, Hikaru Kobayashi

Puss-in-Boots and the White Cat Paul Kay, Elizabeth Harrod

Princess Florine and the Bluebird Yuhui Choe, Alexander Campbell

Red Riding Hood and the Wolf Sabina Westcombe, Ryoichi Hirano

Grand pas de deux Lauren Cuthbertson, Sergei Polunin

Fairytale characters, Fairy attendants, pages Artists of The Royal Ballet, Students of The Royal Ballet School

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Boris Gruzin
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Production: Christopher Newton, Nicholas Sergeyev, Ninette de Valois, Monica Mason
Designer: Oliver Messel
Additional designs: Peter Farmer
Lighting: Mark Jonathan

ADDITIONAL CHOREOGRAPHY

Prologue: Carabosse and Rats – Anthony Dowell
Act I: Garland Dance – Christopher Wheeldon
Act II: Aurora’s Variation, the Prince’s Variation – Frederick Ashton
Act III: Florestan and his Sisters – Frederick Ashton after Marius Petipa
Polonaise and Mazurka – Anthony Dowell assisted by Christopher Carr