The story of the slumbering princess goes back several centuries and went through numerous versions before Perrault was inspired by an Italian tale to write what would become the Sleeping Beauty that we know today. On the day of her christening, an infant princess receives a curse from the fairy Carabosse, whom no one invited to the fete; the fairy wishes for Aurora to prick her finger and die on the day of her 16th birthday. Fortunately, another fairy succeeds in easing the princess’ plight by having her fall instead into a deep sleep of 100 years. Only true love’s kiss will awaken her.
In the staging presented by Les Grands Ballets with lavish sets and costumes, choreographer Marcia Haydée has gone back to the original version by Marius Petipa and retains the essence of the 19th-century classical ballet. However, the role of the evil fairy plays a much more important role than in the original. Carabosse as reimagined by Haydée becomes a central and nuanced character, personifying Evil – but Good as well, since no being is totally Evil.
Choreography: Marcia Haydée after Marius Petipa
Set and costumes: Pablo Nuñez
Lighting: Marc Parent - based on design by Marcia Haydée and Pablo Nuñez
Music: Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkowsky
Les Grands Ballets Orchestra conducted by Jean-Claude Picard
This production was created in 2011 by the Flanders Ballet. The original version was created in 1965 for the Suttgart Ballet.
Total Running Time: 2 hours 43 minutes
1st half: 1 hour 03 minutes
Intermission: 20 minutes
2nd half: 1 hour 20 minutes
This production was created in 2011 by the Flanders Ballet. The original version was created in 1965 for the Suttgart Ballet.
PROLOGUE
The long-awaited day is finally here. The palace halls ring with a flurry of excitement as King Florestan and the Queen beam with pride over their daughter, Princess Aurora. Today is her Christening, and the six Good Fairies have arrived to bestow their gifts upon the young girl, their Goddaughter.
With a jolt, a crack of thunder and lightning announce the arrival of the evil fairy Carabosse and end the festive mood. She is livid at not having been invited to partake in the important day. The Good Fairies try to calm her but are unable to prevent her from casting a horrible spell on the Princess. On her 16th birthday, it is declared, Princess Aurora will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The King and Queen fall into despair. The Lilac Fairy, who had not yet presented her gift to the Princess, succeeds in softening Carabosse’s curse with a spell of her own. Princess Aurora is protected from death, but will fall into a 100-year slumber that can only be broken by true love’s kiss.
INTERLUDE
Time passes, and Princess Aurora blossoms into a young woman under the watchful protection of the Lilac Fairy. Yet, Carabosse always lingers near, anticipating the fateful day when her curse will unfold.
ACT I. THE SLEEP
In the palace garden, King Florestan and the Queen are hosting a lavish party for Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday. Among the guests are four princes who have come to vie for the Princess’ affection. An elderly woman, hiding in plain sight, makes her way to the Princess’ side and gifts her a bouquet of roses. Little does Princess Aurora know, the elderly woman is actually Carabosse, and a spindle is hidden in the bouquet. While admiring the flowers, Aurora pricks her finger and falls under spell. She is laid in her bed, destined to sleep for 100 cursed years. When the whole court falls victim to the enchanted sleep, the Lilac Fairy creates a thick forest to conceal and protect the kingdom until the curse can be broken. Enraged at having been thwarted, Carabosse slips away to plot her revenge.
ACT II. THE KISS
A century later, there is another royal party where a young prince is being courted. Prince Désiré longs for solitude and escapes the party, and the many women there trying to charm him, by going for a walk in the forest. Carabosse has spotted him, but so has the Lilac Fairy and forest nymphs. The Lilac Fairy acts first, conjuring a vision of sleeping Princess Aurora. As if in a dream, Prince Désiré begins to dance with Aurora and falls completely in love. Hopeful, the Lilac Fairy leads him to the sleeping kingdom to find and awaken her.
Carabosse stakes out the Prince from the thorny rose thicket and pounces on him with a spell. The Lilac Fairy comes to his rescue, returning the spell against Carabosse. When Prince Désiré finally makes it to Aurora’s bedside, he falls to his knees and kisses her, breaking her curse.
ACT III. THE WEDDING
The whole kingdom has awoken from their cursed sleep and rejoices in preparing the wedding between Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré. The guestlist includes beloved fairytale characters who make special appearances for this joyous event. The Lilac Fairy blesses the couple’s union and continues to watch over them, but Carabosse never remains far, awaiting her moment of reprisal.
With Les Grands Ballets Orchestra
Our orchestra features 43 musicians and superior soloists, and has been playing a major role in the success of Les Grands Ballets for more than 30 years.
Artistic Director: Ivan Cavallari
Executive Director: Marc Lalonde
President Emeritus: Constance V. Pathy, C.M., C.Q., DMus.
Founder: Ludmilla Chiriaeff
Artistic Director Emeritus: Gradimir Pankov
Production Director: Stéphan Pépin
Technical Directors: Simon Beetschen
Technical and Production Coordinator: Gabrielle Lemoine-Brin
Stage Manager: Catherine Ledoux
Resident Lighting Designer: Marc Parent
Resident Sound Designer and Sound Engineer: Raymond Soly
Head Stage Carpenter: Kenneth Gregg
Head of Accessories: Pierre Berthiaume
Head Lighting Technician: Patrick Carrière
Assistant to Head Lighting Technician: Dominic Drouin
Head of Sound: Aidan MacCormack
Head of Video: Roberto D’Avanzo
Head of Costumes: Denise Morin
Head of Wardrobe: Mélanie Ferrero
Assistant to Head of Wardrobe: Louisanne Lamarre
Costumes Project Account Manager: Marie-Hélène Gravel
Clerks, Wardrobe: Christelle Deforceville
Senior Advisor, Wardrobe: Mireille Tremblay
Costumes Buyer : Julie Pelletier
Principal Cutter: Caroline Boisvert
First Assistant Cutter: Kéli Alexandre
Assistant Cutter: Michèle Gagné
Sewers: Anabel Caron, Emilie Tremblay-Lévesque, Cecilia Meza, Silvana Fernandez, Pamela Masseport, Natalie Talbot, Francine Viens, Steve Fortin, Catherine Brodeur, Isabelle St-Gelais
Dye and Textile Artists: Valérie Delacroix, Katherine Paré
External Cutter : Mathieu Audy
Technicians and dressers, IATSE Members, local 56 and 863
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