Plot Synopsis

Act I

Scene I

The King and his assistant Catalabutte wait anxiously outside while the Queen is in labour. They begin preparations for the baby’s christening; guests from all over the kingdom will be invited and it will be a celebration like no other. Suddenly, Lady Florine comes to get the King – his daughter has been born. He announces to the kingdom her name will be Princess Aurora.

Scene II

The day of the christening is gloriously sunny and everyone is excited about seeing Aurora for the first time. Among the guests are the four young princes from across the world, who one day will be eligible suitors for the princess. When the Royal Family arrive with baby Aurora, everyone gathers around the crib to admire her beauty.

The five Fairies, who are to be Godmothers to the newborn baby, arrive and present their gifts to Aurora. Their gifts are – like their names – beauty, wit, grace, song and wisdom.

However, just as Wisdom is about to give her gift, the wicked fairy Carabosse, arrives and is furious she has not been invited to the christening. She announces she has cast a spell on Aurora; when the princess turns sixteen she will prick her finger and die. Everyone is horrified and they plead with Carabosse not to hurt Aurora and to take back the wicked curse.

Then Wisdom announces that she will give Aurora her gift. While she can’t entirely break Carabosse’s spell, Wisdom says Aurora will not die when she pricks her finger but instead will fall into a deep sleep for at least 100 years, to be broken by the kiss of a handsome prince. The King declares that all sharp objects are to be banned from the kingdom, and entrusts Catalabutte to carry out this decree.

Scene III

Catalabutte has everyone bring their spindles and knitting needles to the palace. Everything is thrown into a big pile and set alight. Catalabutte reassures the King that the kingdom is completely empty of anything that is sharp that could prick Aurora’s finger. For the next sixteen years everything in the kingdom is good. Aurora grows into a beautiful, graceful and witty young princess.

Scene IV

Aurora’s sixteenth birthday party is being held in the palace garden. The gardeners have been instructed to remove all the thorns from the roses. The King and Queen enter the garden, along with the four young princes from across the world. They have grown into fine young men and the King is hoping Aurora will pick one to be her husband.

There is dancing and merriment and everyone is enjoying a fantastic party. Suddenly something catches Aurora’s eye – it is a gardener with a black rose. Aurora has never seen such a rose before; the gardener gives it to the young princess. Intrigued, she starts to dance – but then suddenly she pricks her finger and collapses.

The gardener reveals herself as Carabosse and with triumphant glee tells everyone Aurora has pricked her finger and died. The King and Queen are distraught until Wisdom appears and reminds them Aurora has only fallen asleep for 100 years and the kiss of a young prince would wake her. When all the guests have gone, Wisdom puts the entire kingdom to sleep.

Act II

Scene I

Exactly one hundred years after Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, a young prince called Prince Désiré is bored with his life. While on a hunt, his two most trusted friends, Florestan and Florimund, entice him away to another part of the forest. The Prince’s friends try to cheer him up but then Gallifron, Prince Désiré’s Private Secretary, finds them and starts to insist that Désiré should rejoin the hunt, but the Prince asks to be left alone. Walking deeper into the forest the Prince is deep in thought when suddenly Wisdom appears and tells him the story of Aurora. She takes him to meet her spirit.

Scene II

Wisdom introduces Désiré to Aurora and the two start to dance, during which time they fall madly in love. But after a while Aurora and the Nymphs suddenly disappear. The Prince is desperate to find Aurora and pleads with Wisdom to show him where the sleeping princess is. She tells him and he arrives at the palace.

Scene III

The Prince enters a room, unaware Carabosse and her attendants are hiding there to prevent him from getting to Aurora. He can’t see very well as it is dark but he’s aware something is happening. Carabosse is changing into a dragon. A fight breaks out but the Prince manages to kill the dragon and find the sleeping Aurora. He bends down and kisses her, breaking the spell. The entire kingdom awakens. The Prince then declares his love for Aurora and proposes to her. The King and the Queen are ecstatic and gladly give their blessings to the happy couple.

Scene IV

The wedding celebration is huge. The King gives the newlywed couple a pair of magical Bluebirds in a golden cage as a wedding present. There is much dancing, singing and happiness and they all live happily ever after.