Review: Boston Ballet's Brings Back Classic 'Sleeping Beauty'

It has been five years since the Boston Ballet mounted one of their trademark pieces, "The Sleeping Beauty," now running until June 4 at the Citizens Bank Opera House. This classic fairy tale, based around an etiquette error that leads to cascading catastrophe, is both familiar to and beloved by the well-informed Boston dance audience.

Tchaikovsky's ballet premiered in Russia in 1890, and has been performed around the world ever since. Its primary choreographer, Marius Petipa, who served as the Ballet Master of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres, has in many respects shaped classical ballet up to this day. While he created over four dozen ballets, perhaps he is best known for Don Quixote and The Nutcracker (choreographed jointly with Lev Ivanov).

Boston's 2023 grand presentation is anchored by the richly lush costumes and the dramatic sets – most especially the forest – of David Walker. These are eye candy that catapult the audience into the fantasy world of fairy tale royalty, princesses and demonic creatures, peasants and aristocratic hunters, curses and counter-curses, Puss in Boots and Little Red Riding Hood. Likewise, the Tchaikovsky score, conducted by the always-expressive Mischa Santora, weaves together the solos, duets, trio, and splendid corps de ballet.

Here's the story: Having been accidentally left off the guest list for the christening of Princess Aurora, the Fairy Carabosse is so angered that she brings four of her scary creature guards to crash the christening and to cast a nasty curse over Aurora: She will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Princess, however, has the power to change that curse so that Aurora (danced by Ji Young Chae) and the entire palace will fall into a sleep for 100 years. Then Prince Desire (danced by Jeffrey Cirio) will awaken them all with one pucker of the lips in Aurora's direction. In the final act, Desire makes an honest woman of Aurora.

"Sleeping Beauty" demanded of Ji Young Chae an intense level of balance and lissome equilibrium as she held herself aloft on one toe through the rotation of four suitors at the palace. Jeffrey Cirio was required to leap and twirl with seriously butch energy. The audience, so familiar with these choreographic challenges, held its collective breath and then exploded in applause at the successes of the dancers.

While the dancing was technically masterful, what was somewhat missing from the opening night performance was amorous chemistry between the young lovers. Their actual romance did not convey the emotion we almost always feel with Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen's productions. Instead, the emotional center was the rivalry between the wicked Carabosse (danced with full menace by Chyrstyn Fentroy) in her dark flowing garments and the pastel Lilac Fairy (danced with great command by Viktorina Kapitonova).

The packed audience, inclusive of all the generations who grew up on this fairy tale, anticipated and celebrated every curse and every festivity. Their standing ovation, demanding numerous bows from the company, marked their delight.

"The Sleepiong Beauty" continues through June 4, 2023 at the Citizens Bank Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston, MA. For more information, follow this link.