Sleeping Beauty

Published Tuesday 25 October 2005 at 12:10 by Gavin Roebuck

Every major ballet company has one, and this Sleeping Beauty created for the American Ballet Theatre in 1987 has just received its European premiere with English National Ballet.

With new sets by Peter Farmer and costumes designed by Nicholas Georgiadis, it is sumptuous with a subdued pastel palette not helped by the at times gloomy lighting of David Richardson. The dancing was brilliant though, with a joyous Aurora (Agnes Oaks) with thrilling balances in the Rose Adage and her sparkling personality and polished footwork throughout.

Her prince, Thomas Edur, just recovered from a nasty injury, is elegant and accomplished. Sleek performances from Adela Ramirez with Juan Rodrigues as Puss in Boots and the White Cat, the Bluebird and Princess Florine (Yat-Sen Chang, Simone Clarke) speedy and sparkling. As the Lilac Fairy, Elena Glurdjidze had all the grace and command that this role requires.

Begona Cao as the Woodland Glade Fairy has such an elegant line and polish that she is a delight to watch. The Carabosse of Andre Portasio could dare to be more frightening and the King and Queen a touch more stately, though with a magical boat and glorious dancing this is a production worth seeing. MacMillan’s staging follows the traditional text and has his own unmistakable dance pieces. The dancers of ENB are on top form and well worth watching. A difficult ballet to stage, ENB now has a high quality Beauty, as do some but not all of the touring companies who visit Britain.