In December 1888, Tchaikovsky was commissioned to create a ballet by Ivan Usevorozhsky, director of the Imperial Theaters. Tchaikovsky, who was contemplating the concept of the work, chose 'Sleeping Princess' from 'The Tale of the Fairy' by Charles Perrault, a French fairy tale author famous for 'Cinderella', 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'The Cat in Boots.'

This work is one of the famous fables that have been handed down since ancient times in Russia and composed into a fairy tale by Perrault. "Sleeping Beauty" consists of 3 acts and 4 scenes. Director Useborozsky and court ballet choreographer Marius Petipa wrote the script and added music to it.

This ballet music consists of 29 pieces in total, but among them, No. 1 Introduction and Lira Fairy, No. 2 Adagio, No. 3 Allegro Moderato, No. 4 Panorama, and No. 5 Waltz are extracted and played as an orchestral suite. are doing Although Tchaikovsky used to write a lot of gloomy and sad music, strangely, his ballet songs were composed splendidly. In this work, instead of deep melancholy and indescribable sadness, shining emotions, elegant music, and leaping rhythm appear without wrinkles.

This work, which was premiered in 1890, the year after Tchaikovsky wrote it at the age of 49, received a terrible criticism, ironically because the music was so excellent. It was rare that such sophisticated music was used in dance music, which was considered simple as an appendage of dance at the time.

Moreover, it is said that everyone was greatly disappointed when the Emperor simply commented, “It was okay!” and left after attending the rehearsal the day before the premiere at the Mariinsky Theater. This work is the largest among Tchaikovsky's ballet music, has many characters, and the stage equipment and costumes are splendid, so it was not easy to actually put on a performance. With that background, they are more famous in Europe and America than in Russia. After Tchaikovsky's death, the Diaghilev Ballet recorded great success at the Russian Court Theater and London's Alhambra Theater in 1921, and has since established itself as an immortal ballet work.

(Prologue) The Royal Palace of Florestan, full of colorful and beautiful flower decorations. A long time ago, in a certain country, her queen, who could not give birth to children, gave birth to a beautiful Princess Aurora as a result of her sincere prayers. To a banquet to celebrate the occasion, six fairies were invited along with several guests and each wished her little princess good luck.

At the climax of the party, the fairy Karavox, who had not been invited due to her attendant's mistake, curses her princess that by the time she reaches adulthood, her finger will prick her finger and die. Lyra, a kind fairy, appears to her disheartened queen and tells her that the princess only sleeps for her and that her eyes will be awakened by the love of a certain prince.

свернуть