Synopsis

Prologue

In the palace of King Florestan XIV the birth of his daughter, Princess Aurora, is being celebrated. Master of Ceremonies Catalabutte is checking the invitation list. The Lilac Fairy and Good Fairies appear among the courtiers and the guests coming to congratulate the Princess. They bring the newborn infant gifts, endowing her with the finest human attributes. Suddenly, a great noise is heard. The evil and powerful Carabosse Fairy drives into the ballroom with her repulsive suite. They forgot to invite her to the celebration. An irate Carabosse predicts that Aurora will die young from pricking her finger with a knitting spindle. Lilac Fairy can’t repeal this sinister spell fully, but she impairs Carabosse’s curse and notifies others that Aurora will not die from picking her finger with a knitting spindle. She will be sleeping for 100 years. Lilac Fairy impels Carabosse to leave the palace and the King prohibits having a knitting spindle in the kingdom.

Act I

In the palace Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday is being celebrated. Four foreign princes have come to the King to ask for her hand. Joyous Aurora dances with princes to please her parents. At the height of the festivities, an old woman wrapped up in the hood appears giving Princess flower as a gift with knitting spindle hidden in it. Delighted Aurora takes it and continues to dance. The King, the Queen and Catalabutte are trying to take that gift away from her but he fails and suddenly, she stops dancing and looks with horror at her finger which she has accidentally pricked with the spindle. Overcome by deadly cold, Aurora tries to share her pain to her parents, but nobody is willing to help her. Aurora falls into the arms of princes. The unknown old woman throws off her hood— it is the Carabosse Fairy! Carabosse’s curse has come to pass. Everyone is desperate but the Lilac Fairy reminds them that Aurora is not dead - she has fallen asleep. She will be brought back to life by the passionate kiss of a handsome Prince. The Lilac Fairy plunges the whole kingdom into a deep sleep.

Act II

Scene 1

Surrounded by grandees, Prince Désiré is whiling away the time hunting. He is overcome by melancholy. And, as if in answer to his call, the Lilac Fairy appears in before him in the forest. She summons up a vision of Aurora, surrounded by divine beings — the Nereids. The enchanted Prince implores the Lilac Fairy to search for the beautiful maiden. And the Lilac Fairy invites the Prince to sail in her magic craft to the bewitched castle.

Scene 2

Gloom reigns in the sleeping kingdom of Florestan. It is guarded by the evil Carabosse Fairy. The Lilac Fairy and Prince Désiré rapidly approach the castle. The wicked old woman and her suite try to conceal Aurora but, in vain — the Prince catches sight of the sleeping beauty. Completely won over by her charm, the Prince tenderly kisses the Princess— and the evil spell is broken! Carabosse and her suite vanish. Aurora wakes up and the royal kingdom comes to life too. As soon as the Princess sets eyes on her deliverer, love is born in her heart. Désiré asks the King and Queen for their daughter’s hand in marriage.

Act III

Fairy-tale characters have come to Aurora and Désiré’s wedding: Princess Florine and Blue Bird, The White Cat and Puss in Boots, Cinderella and Prince Fortuné. The Prince and Princess dance in a harmonious and solemn duet. The Lilac Fairy and her suite bless the happy couple.