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PROLOGUE
King Florestan and his Queen are celebrating the christening of their daughter, the Princess Aurora. The festivities are interrupted when Catalabutte, the King's Master of Ceremonies who compiled the guest-list, realizes that he has forgotten to invite the wicked Fairy Carabosse. Carabosse then appears with her attendants and swears vengeance on them all. She invokes a curse over the infant, promising that one day Aurora will prick her finger on a needle and die. But then the Lilac Fairy intervenes, ameliorating the spell so that Aurora will not die from the needle but only sleep until she is awakened by a Prince's kiss. Even so, for Aurora's protection the King declares that, on pain of death, no sharp needles are ever to be allowed in the castle.
ACT ONE
Sixteen years later in the Palace Gardens the villagers are celebrating Princess Aurora's coming of age. Four foreign Princes are in attendance to seek her hand in marriage and the beautiful Princess dances with each of them in turn. But then, at the height of the celebrations, Caraboose arrives disguised as an old woman and gives Aurora a spindle. The Princess dances with the spindle and pricks her finger, immediately falling faint and collapsing. Carabosse then reveals herself, gloating over the success of her machinations. But once more the Lilac Fairy appears, reaffirming her spell that the Princess is only sleeping. She then casts a spell of sleep over the whole court.
ACT TWO
One hundred years have gone by and Prince Florimund and his courtiers are in the forest hunting for deer. Feeling melancholic, the Prince sends his retinue away so that he may be alone. Then the Lilac Fairy intervenes, showing the Prince a vision of Princess Aurora. The Prince dances with this beautiful apparition and falls deeply in love with her. The Lilac Fairy then directs the Prince through the forest to King Florestan's castle. Finding the sleeping Aurora, the Prince awakens her with a kiss. As Aurora awakes, so does the whole court. The King and Queen approve the betrothal of Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund.
ACT THREE
A great ball is held to celebrate the betrothal of the Prince and Princess with a great ball. Fairytale characters appear to pay their respects to the happy pair with special dances. Finally, the Prince and princess dance together and in a final celebration are joined by the whole court.
This was another lavish production, the equal of Swan Lake performed by the same company at the same venue only two days previously. As before the sets were simple but colourful and highly effective, but it was the costumes again that impressed the most.
Gulnur Sarsenova danced the demanding role of Princess Aurora extremely well. Her balance was superb in a part which requires much pointe work, and in particular lengthy periods balanced on single pointe as she greets the four Princes (remaining balanced on one foot as she is handed off from one to the next). Only her spins require a little more work as the axis was frequently off the vertical necessitating a small side-step to steady herself on completion. Perhaps she was simply trying too hard in a part she clearly enjoyed. Talgat Kozhabayev as Prince Florimund showed great stamina in dancing his second (different) lead role in three days. The Lilac Fairy was immaculately portrayed by the striking Marina Ivushkina, whose elegant performance was a joy to watch. German Blagovashenskiy splendidly hammed it up as Carabosse, a part which was more pantomime than dance. Special mention also should go to Tatiana Kartushina whose sensual and semi-comic performance as the White Cat provided a delicious interlude and to the childlike Valeriya Bystrova whose frightened Red Riding Hood was a particular highlight.
Sumptuous costumes, colourful sets and a large and talented corps de ballet. A first class production.