Libretto: Ivan Vsevolozhsky and Marius Petipa, after tales: Charles Perrault
The life-changing meeting between Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa was initiated by Ivan Vsevolozhsky, Director of the Imperial Theatres. It was his idea to stage a ballet based on the French fairy-tale, he wrote the libretto, he created the unbelievably beautiful costumes and he was the co-creator of the miracle born from the genius of two great maestri.
The Sleeping Beauty was both completely traditional and utterly fresh. Its music, like other ballet scores of the latter half of the 19th century, had been composed according to the choreographer’s specific plan with indications as to the number of bars and the nature of their sound. But the execution of the commission did not limit Tchaikovsky’s music to the expected dance character alone. The ballet resounded with full-blooded exemplary symphonism. Its melodic richness could not but inspire great achievements. Tchaikovsky’s work did not inspire Petipa to undertake revolutionary steps; in the music the choreographer heard harmony. And his Sleeping Beauty was not a search for new methods; rather in its ideal construction it assembled together everything that the choreographer had done over his many years of work at the St Petersburg Theatre. The dance harmony of the production was defined by the balanced proportions of the ingredients – pantomime, genre crowd scenes and classical dance forms constructed with impeccable logic of the development of choreography, from ensembles to the ballerina’s solo entrance. This model of grand ballet, familiar for its component parts and innovative in the perfection of its composition, was to be the crowning glory of ballet in the 19th century. At the same time, it was The Sleeping Beauty that gave an impulse to ballet discoveries in the 20th century. Enchanted by Tchaikovsky, Petipa and Vsevolozhsky’s masterpiece, Alexandre Benois – and the subsequent most radical ballet creators – created works in the spirit of years-gone-by and remote cultures. The fascinating atmosphere of France during the reign of Louis XIV, reproduced in The Sleeping Beauty, opened the gates to the modernistic stylisations of the World of Art movement. Olga Makarova
Synopsis
Prologue
King Florestan XIV and the Queen are celebrating the birth of Princess Aurora. In the palace preparations are underway for a banquet. Master of Ceremonies Catalabutte is checking the list of guests. Guests and members of the court arrive and congratulate the king and queen. The Lilac Fairy and the Good Fairies present their gifts to the infant princess, endowing her with the finest human attributes.
Suddenly a great noise is heard: the wicked and powerful Carabosse Fairy appears. Catalabutte has forgotten to invite her to the banquet. The Master of Ceremonies is out of his mind with anxiety for his mistake may result in dire misfortune for the Princess in her future life. In a fit of anger Carabosse foretells that Aurora will die young from pricking her finger with a knitting spindle. All are overcome by despair. But the Lilac Fairy forces Carabosse to leave the palace and predicts a reprieve from death for Aurora: "In a hundred years’ time the princess, and the whole kingdom, will be awakened to happiness by a handsome prince".
Act I
It is Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday. Four princes have come to court her. The King and Queen urge her to make a choice. But Aurora, who is full of youth and the joys of life, refuses to listen to her parents’ entreaties. At the height of the festivities and old woman comes up to Aurora and, unnoticed, hands her a knitting spindle. Trusting Aurora takes it and continues to dance. Suddenly she stops dancing and gazes in horror at her finger which she has accidentally pricked with the spindle. Aurora is overcome by deadly cold and she dies. The old woman throws off her hood - it is Fairy Carabosse! Whirling about maliciously, she disappears in a cloud of smoke. A dreadful misfortune has overtaken the kingdom.
The Lilac Fairy appears: she has the power to mitigate evil! Aurora hasn’t died, she has fallen asleep for a hundred years. She will be woken up by the passionate kiss of a handsome prince. The Lilac Fairy puts the whole kingdom to sleep for a hundred years.
Act II
Scene 1
A century has passed. Prince Desire is hunting on his domain, but he is not particularly engrossed in the chase. He is haunted by a beautiful dream.
Suddenly the Lilac Fairy appears before the Prince. She summons a vision of Aurora surrounded by ethereal nerdish. Enchanted, the Prince hurries after the vision but, on a command from the Lilac Fairy, it disappears.
Desire implores the Lilac Fairy to search for the beautiful maiden who has captivated his heart. The Lilac Fairy and the Prince set sail in the magic boat and make for the bewitched royal castle.
Scene 2
Darkness and desolation reign in the sleeping kingdom. It is guarded by the wicked Carabosse Fairy.
The Lilac Fairy and Prince Desire approach rapidly. Fairy Carabosse and her retinue try to hide Aurora, but the Prince catches sight of her. Captivated by Aurora, he kisses her tenderly. And the evil spell is broken! Carabosse and her retinue disappear. Aurora wakes up, and with her the whole kingdom. The Princess gazes at her deliverer and love is born in her heart. Desire asks the King and Queen for Aurora’s hand.
Act III
The wedding of Aurora and Desire. The Fairy-tale Characters have come to the celebrations: Princess Florine and Blue Bird, Puss in Boots and White Cat, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Cinderella and the Prince.
Apotheosis
The Lilac Fairy and her retinue give their blessing for a happy life to the bride and groom.
Peter Tchaikovsky "Sleeping Beauty"
(ballet-fierie in three acts with a prologue and apotheosis)
Characters
King Florestan XIV
The Queen
Princess Aurora
Prince Desire
Catalabutte, Master of Ceremonies to King Florestan
Prince Cheri
Prince Charmant
Prince Fortune
Prince Fleur de Pois
Maids of Honour
Galifron, the tutor
Duchess
Peasant Dance
Evil Fairy Carabosse
Lilac Fair
Tenderness (Candid – fairy of Sincerity)
Carelessness (Fleur-de-farine – finest wheat flower Fairy)
Generosity (Breadcrumb scattering Fairy)
Playfulness (Twittering canary)
Audacity (Violent – Fairy of tempestuous passions)
Fairy of Diamond
Fairy of Sapphire
Fairy of Gold
Fairy of Silver
Princess Florine
Blue Bird
White Cat
Puss in Boots
Little Red Riding Hood
Grey Wolf
Cinderella
Prince
Mariinsky Theatre: 
Mariinsky-2 (New Theatre): 
Mariinsky Concert Hall: 
