After a five year hiatus, Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty will once again be seen in Boston when Boston Ballet presents the popular fairytale ballet at Citizens Bank Opera House next month.
Ninette de Valois’ 1977 production primarily includes Petipa’s iconic choreography with additional touches added by Sir Frederick Ashton and de Valois herself. Featuring commissioned sets and costumes by David Walker, this version of The Sleeping Beauty has been performed by the company in 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2018.
This season, Chisako Oga debuts as Princess Aurora, and Derek Dunn and Sangmin Lee as Prince Desiré.
Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty
Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty begins with the christening of Princess Aurora. Fairies are invited to bestow gifts on the young princess, except for the Fairy Carabosse who is forgotten. She is outraged and announces the princess will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy softens Carabosse’s curse, so Aurora will not die but shall sleep for 100 years until awakened by a prince’s kiss.
A century later, Prince Desiré is led to the castle by the Lilac Fairy where he kisses Princess Aurora and breaks the spell. The ballet concludes with a grand wedding celebration attended by fairytale characters.
All performances of Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty will be performed at Citizens Bank Opera House:
- Thursday, May 25 at 7:30 pm
- Friday, May 26 at 7:30 pm
- Saturday, May 27 at 1:30 and 7:30 pm
- Sunday, May 28 at 1:30 pm
- Tuesday, May 30 at 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 pm
- Thursday, Jun 1 at 7:30 pm
- Friday, Jun 2 at 7:30 pm
- Saturday, Jun 3 at 1:30 and 7:30 pm
- Sunday, Jun 4 at 1:30 pm
Featured Photo of Lia Cirio and Lasha Khozashvili in Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty by Liza Voll, courtesy of Boston Ballet.
