Synopsis

PROLOGUE

The Christening

The King and Queen have invited all the Fairies of the land to the christening of their daughter, the Princess Aurora. Each fairy presents her gift to the newborn Princess, imbuing her with the qualities of Kindness, Joy, Beauty, and Temperament. Suddenly the proceedings are interrupted by Carabosse, the Fairy of Jealousy. She is in a rage because the Major Domo of the Court, Catalabutte, neglected to invite her. That oversight is costly as Carabosse casts an evil spell on Aurora: one day, when she least suspects it, the Princess will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The entire court is in despair until the Lilac Fairy, the Fairy of Wisdom, steps forward to bestow her gift. Although she cannot counteract the curse, she can mollify it by declaring that instead of dying, the Princess Aurora will fall into a deep slumber from which she can be awakened only by the kiss of true love.

ACT I

The Spell

Three old women are busy creating a gift for Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday. One woman sits at a spinning wheel, flanked by another who holds the thread, while another knits furiously. The peasant children arrive with garlands and tokens of appreciation. Their festivities are interrupted when two guards arrest the old crone as a result of the years-old ban with spinning on penalty of death. The King and Queen arrive just as the guards are about to put the women to death, but because it’s a joyous occasion, the King pardons the old women of their transgressions. Princes from the four corners of the earth have come to win Aurora’s hand in marriage, and the young princess revels in their adulation. As the princess dances with joy, one of the crones approaches Aurora and presents her with a strange gift. Enraptured, Aurora shows the unique present to her parents, who recognize it as a spindle they have banned. They try to urge her to drop the spindle - but it’s too late! Aurora pricks her finger and everyone is aghast as Aurora falls lifeless to the ground. The crone reveals herself as Carabosse and vanishes in triumph. The Lilac Fairy appears and casts her spell of sleep over Aurora, the King and Queen, and all the people in the land. The palace is covered by a forest until the promised awakening.

Intermission

ACT II

The Vision

It is a hundred years later, and Prince Desire is leading a hunting party through the woods. Bored with his courtly duties, he entertains himself with flirtatious diversions. The prince dismisses his assistants to meditate on his longing for ideal love. Fairies appear, led by the Lilac Fairy, and show him a vision of Princess Aurora. Enthralled, he begs the Fairies to lead him to this beautiful vision and together they travel through challenging landscapes until they reach the hidden castle. Carabosse and her minions have been jealously guarding the castle and attempt to stop anyone from coming near, but her evil magic is overpowered by the wisdom of the Lilac Fairy. Prince Desire awakens Princess Aurora with a kiss, breaking the spell and causing the defeated Carabosse to disappear forever.

ACT III

The Wedding

Fairytale characters from around the world have come to celebrate the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Desire. Aurora’s parents, the guests, and the entire court, joined by the fairies of Kindness, Joy, Beauty, and Temperament, pay their respects to the bride and groom as the Lilac Fairy oversees and blesses the marriage with wisdom and truth.**