Sleeping Beauty 2024

Sleeping Beauty is a ballet that in its opulence, dynamism, formal rigour and sensitivity to the sheer pleasures of choreographed stagecraft, epitomizes perhaps better than any other production, the meaning of classical ballet.

The tale begins as the court assembles for Princess Aurora’s christening. In their excitement, the royal family forgets to invite the wicked and powerful fairy, Carabosse. Furious at being overlooked, Carabosse turns up unannounced and places a curse on Aurora. She declares that Aurora shall die for her 16th birthday after pricking her finger. The Lilac Fairy, equal in power to Carabosse, intervenes. She gives her own blessing – the princess, instead of dying, will fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years. She will only be awoken by true love’s kiss.

For 16 years, Princess Aurora is kept safe, but tragedy strikes on her 16th birthday. She pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep. The Lilac fairy casts a spell to ensure that the kingdom slumbers with her. A hundred years later, Prince Florimund is hunting in the woods. The Lilac Fairy appears and shows him a vision of Princess Aurora. He immediately falls in love with her and embarks on a quest to break the spell. The ballet ends in a grand finale celebrating the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund.

Set to the exquisite music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky played live by the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, this ballet is a captivating tale of love, curses, and the power of true love’s kiss.