The Sleeping Beauty

Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular ballet sparkles in this 2017 production by London’s Royal Ballet, which actually represents a revival twice over: resurrecting the 2006 staging by Monica Mason and Christopher Newton, which in turn was an effort to recreate the legendary 1946 version by Oliver Messel that reopened the Royal Opera House after its conversion into a dance hall during World War II. Peter Farmer’s set and costume designs necessarily adapt Messel’s originals to some degree, but the result is still gorgeous, with luscious pastel-colored backgrounds and extravagantly detailed costumes. The choreography, following Marius Petipa’s for the 1890 St. Petersburg premiere (with additions by Frederick Ashton), is splendidly performed by Marianela Nuñez as Princess Aurora, who falls into a deep sleep after pricking her finger on a cursed spindle, and Vadim Muntagirov as Prince Florimund, who awakens her. Kristen McNally and Claire Calvert are equally fine as Carabosse, the wicked fairy who imposes the curse, and her good counterpart, the Lilac Fairy. And the whole troupe displays expertise throughout, especially in the Act III wedding festivities. Featuring solid support from the ROH orchestra under the baton of Koen Kessels, this release is one of the best of the many versions of Tchaikovsky’s evergreen ballet available on disc. Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and LPCM stereo, extras include an introduction to the opera, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)