The Sleeping Beauty

Published Monday 30 October 2006 at 17:05 by John Percival

Now we know that the Royal Ballet’s revived Sleeping Beauty does not live up to its hopes of matching the triumphant 1946 original (most costumes, some choreography and much mime are all inferior), we can at least enjoy it as an improvement on other recent productions.

This season’s first performance on Saturday afternoon has three or four notable individual interpretations, led by Alexandra Ansanelli as Princess Aurora - her first at Covent Garden, although she played in New York City Ballet’s version before transferring this year. What a pleasure to see not only excellent technique, clean an stylish dancing, but a ballerina who truly responds to the music and also makes us aware what her character feels at each moment.

Rupert Pennefather as her Prince almost succeeds in making the redundant Hunting Scene solo look acceptable and elegantly confirms his standing as our best hope for a future danseur noble.

Gillian Revie gives a very sharp-edged account of the wicked fairy Carabosse, convincing whether baleful or with an evil grin. Too bad this Lilac Fairy (Lauren Cutherbertson) lacked the drama to give her a real adversary. Good news however: they have at last found someone who can dance Bluebird after last season’s castings all fell short. Andrej Uspenski, born and trained in St Petersburg, has a fine light jump, brings off the virtuoso steps admirably and gives the role its distinctive qualities of line and style.

Perhaps now we can hope that in other parts too a stylish flair can be added to present dull competence. Valeriy Ovsyanikov conducts with notable vigour.