The Royal Ballet: Tchaikovsky- The Sleeping Beauty
$52.95
Price: $52.95
(as of Aug 13, 2025 06:23:11 UTC – Details)
Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty is one of the best loved of classical ballets, combining in a single work all the enchantment and virtuosity that ballet has to offer. The royal court, the panoramic journey of the Prince to the overgrown castle, and the great celebratory dances of the happy ending (in which other famous fairytale figures appear) are all brought to life by the luscious designs of this celebrated production, created in 1946 for The Royal Ballet. The inspired performances of its revival for the 75th anniversary of the Company in 2006, together with a magnificent High Definition recording, make this a superb tribute to The Royal Ballet’s unique style and visual splendour.Press Reviews
“Alina Cojocaru’s Aurora was the ballet’s radiant centrepiece, charming, in control and filled with a palpable delight in every pretty step.” (The Times)
“Here we have a visual record of a very enjoyable Royal Ballet production of The Sleeping Beauty. Presented as part of the company’s celebrations marking Sir Frederick Ashton’s centenary, it was, in fact, a welcome revival of the celebrated 1946 Sleeping Beauty that had provided a significant post-war boost to both the company’s morale and its wider reputation.” (Musicweb International)
“In 2006, the company revived its classic Sleeping Beauty, featuring pretty Oliver Messel designs and a spruce choreography combining the romantic Petipa original with Ashton’s hallmark narrative. Nuñez is charm personified as the Lilac Fairy, and has there ever been a more enchanting Aurora than Cojocaru? “ (BBC Music Magazine ★★★★)Cast
Alina Cojocaru (Aurora)
Federico Bonelli (Florimund)
Marianela Nuñez (Lilac Fairy)
Genesia Rosato (Carabosse)
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Valeriy Ovsyanikov
Production
Company: The Royal Ballet
Choreographer: Marius Petipa; Ashton, Dowell, Wheeldon
Disc Information
Catalogue Number: OA0995D
Date of Performance: 2006
Running Time: 135 minutes
Sound: PCM Stereo; DTS Surround Sound
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Label: Opus Arte
Aspect Ratio : 1.78:1
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
Product Dimensions : 7.52 x 5.31 x 0.59 inches; 4.16 ounces
Item model number : 4193666
Director : MacGibbon, Ovsyanikov, The Royal Ballet
Media Format : Classical, Color, Multiple Formats, NTSC
Run time : 2 hours and 15 minutes
Release date : August 26, 2008
Actors : Bonelli, Cojocaru, Nunez, Rosato, Tchaikovsky
Subtitles: : French, German, Italian, Spanish
Studio : Opus Arte
ASIN : B001B223UG
Number of discs : 1
Best Sellers Rank: #84,359 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV) #871 in Performing Arts (Movies & TV) #2,777 in Special Interests (Movies & TV) #6,769 in Classical (CDs & Vinyl)
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 230 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Customers say
Customers praise the ballet’s unique musical beauty and amazing dancing technique, while also appreciating the gorgeous costumes and stellar production, particularly Marianela Nunez’s performance. They find the movie mesmerizing and consider it worth the price, with one customer noting the superb corps de ballet. The sound quality receives mixed reviews from customers.
Balletomane –
A cheerful confection
Seeing this version reminds me of what happens when you buy a new television. One set may look to have all you might want, but put it alongside others in the shop and differences appear which change your mind.My view of this work falls into the first category- to accept it for what it is as a production filmed of a company that has been performing it for a very long time and as a star vehicle for Margot Fonteyn in her heyday.Now it’s Alina Cojocaru’s turn and she shines in the title role of a performance which hits all the right notes in a cheerful rendition of this old favourite.This is a fairy story well told, well acted,well costumed and well danced with an excellent surround soundtrack. What is also remarkable is that two other dancers could equally have stepped into the lead role and acquitted themselves with distinction- Marianela Nunez (the Lilac Fairy) and Sarah Lamb in the Bluebird divertissement.Both were exceptionally good and Sarah Lamb gave us a brief dynamic glimpse of what she can offer in a major role.Compared to how well Cojocaru carried off the Rose Adagio (beautifully) it can only be a pleasant thought as to how Sarah Lamb would have interpreted it.Other characterisations are also convincing and well presented-Federico Bonelli is a handsome dashing Prince who partners Cojocaru seamlessly, while Genesia Rosato is a suitably manic Carabosse whose rats are a real hit- they are superb and nearly steal the show. The minor roles are carried off well and the whole production has a good look and feel to it so this is a good buy. Caveats ? A few which are of little account as no one is going to return and amend the production because of viewer’s opinions, but yes the music has been interfered with (yet again) and there are cuts which irritate the knowledgeable.And again I make the point that close-ups are unnatural by showing perspiration and heaving chests which work against the illusion being created all of a piece onstage.They also tend to miss key events happening elsewhere and I for one prefer to see the whole scene as I would at a live performance.Family members who saw this at the ROH also mentioned this which reminded them of how much better the live version was (which it always is of course).In a similar way, considering how important dancers’ feet are in what they do,showing only threequarter views of the body is criminal and should be a key issue in Camerawork 101.There are not many of these transgressions but one is too many for me. So should you buy it ? Well I say yes if you want an excellent example of the Royal Ballet style shown well in one of their key traditional productions- and on that basis it fits in very well with the other versions I have from the Bolshoi,POB,Kirov et al.And that is not faint praise but be ready for the differences when you make comparisons with the others and join the debate about what is the best overall version.
Roy Whitman –
Happily Sleepy
The Sleeping Beauty Ballet by the Royal Ballet is sweet, spectacular, and satisfying to watch. Although it is Tchaikovskyâs more âsleepyâ ballet without neither the excitement of a Christmas eve sword-fight between a Nutcracker-Prince and a Mouse King nor the drama of a Prince having to choose a wife that ends in a swanâs suicide, The Sleeping Beauty Ballet is a more elegant and fundamental form of storytelling. The âbeaux artsâ score of Tchaikovsky pristinely fits the storyline of a princess who falls asleep when a spell is placed upon her only to be awakened with a kiss from a handsome Prince. The dancing in this particular production by The Royal Ballet is reflective of their excellent tradition, with a high degree of precision and elegant formulation. The whole production, from the costumes to the scenery to the music to the storyline, all have a colorful softness that is most appealing. A stunning solo dance by the sleeping beauty to the accompaniment of a solo violin in Part I is complemented by an exquisite duo between the sleeping beauty and the handsome Prince to the accompaniment of a solo viola in Part 2. The final âpas de deuxâ between the pair is spectacular and is performed to the accompaniment of an oboeâs plaintiff wail and the descending scales of a piano. This beautiful production by The Royal Ballet shows that while Tchaikovsky was the master of overblown drama, he was also the master of understated grandness.
Laura S. –
Beautiful!
Beautiful ballet! Got it as a gift for my mom!5/5âï¸
Donna Adank –
I love this production as well.
Alina Cojucaro is a delight as Aurora. Thedancer in the role of Philippe is very good and very good looking.
Alicia de las Pozas –
very beautiful ballet
Iâve seen this ballet when I was younger and I know it well,I also wanted to have a version of this ballet and I am glad to have decided for this one, first because it is a wonderful performance and second because it is familiar for me the Petipasâchoreorgaphy.All main characters :Aurora, the Prince and Lilac Fairy played by Alina Cojocaru, Federico Bonelli and Marianela Nunez were excellent, graceful when they have to be or virtuosos if it is required especially in the last pas de deux at the end of III act .The different dances were very beautiful and charming.The scenery was enchanting, like a real fairy tale especially in the second act when Lilac Fairy guided the prince to the palace through the enchanted forest.The costumes were lovely, the lights very effective.The orquestra was impressive, sound was great.DVD is high recommended.
Brigitte THIERY –
Très beau ballet et danseurs excellents, ainsi que la mise en scène
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Sabine Petrusch –
Dornröschen vom Royal Ballet hat alles, was das Herz begehrt. Vom Orchester, über das gesamte corps de ballet, die Solisten….. ein wahr gewordener Traum.
Cliente Amazon –
balletto classico spettacolare
I. Giles –
This 2006 performance and recording of the Royal Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty has achieved a level of popular success that it could almost be described as having reached cult status. The only issue to decide is whether it deserves this level of popular support. The short answer, in my opinion, is a resounding ‘Yes’!In greater detail therefore:Having owned several visual productions of note of this ballet I can truthfully say that this has completely replaced all the others with some ease. The staging is traditionally sumptuous with no expense spared on the glorious costumes. The backdrops and general settings are of the same order. The only similar attention to detail and visual beauty that I have seen previously has been by the Kirov ballet. Perhaps the additions to Petipa’s original choreography by such luminaries as Frederick Ashton, Anthony Dowell and Christopher Wheeldon provide part of the answer.As regards the dancers themselves – this particular recording has the benefit of many outstanding artists who perfectly fit their roles. In particular Alina Cojocaru and Marianela Nunez make a perfect coupling of Princess Aurora and the Lilac Fairy demonstrating limitless grace and charm. Genesia Rosato’s enthusiastic portrayal of her role as Carabosse is a delight and Alastair Marriott clearly has a great time in his somewhat extravagant costume with spectacular feathery hat! Federico Bonelli lends appropriate support as Prince Florimund.The corps de ballet and numerous supporting fairies, members of the Court and the character dancers are all equally excellent in their roles which are too many to itemise here. Suffice it to say that this is a state of the art production of the Royal Ballet at its very best.The imaging is crisp with fully involving camera work providing excellent colour rendition without a trace of movement blur. The sound is provided in faithful PCM 5.1 surround and stereo formats. Initially this may seem a little dry but the ear quickly adjusts to the correct acoustics of a packed theatre with masses of soft clothing to soak up reverberation which fortunately has not been added artificially to compensate.The bonuses are limited to an illustrated synopsis and a cast gallery. There are interesting sleeve notes giving some historical perspective to the development of the ballet from its inception to the present.It all adds up to an unbeatable combination which fully warrants its lasting popularity. This will be the dream recording for a great number of purchasers and as such can only be rated with any seriousness as a clear 5 star issue.