Dresden, 30 January 2024. Dresden audiences can look forward to some scintillating classical dance from Friday, 9 February 2024, when Semperoper Ballett once again performs Tchaikovsky’s narrative ballet »Sleeping Beauty« in an opulently staged production with stunning costumes. Numerous company members are making their role debuts in the performances scheduled for February and March 2024. And, as part of a partnership with the renowned Palucca University of Dance Dresden, students will for the first time appear in this Semperoper Ballett production. The Staatskapelle Dresden will be conducted by Benjamin Pope; later in the performance run, Tom Seligman will assume conducting duties.
Since its premiere at St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre in 1890, Tchaikovsky’s glittering »Sleeping Beauty« has been regarded as one of the most physically challenging classical narrative ballets in the repertoire. The long-standing director of Semperoper Ballett, Aaron S. Watkin, brought the magical work to Dresden in 2007, basing his version around the original work of legendary choreographer Marius Petipa. For this revival in the 2023/24 season, the current artistic director of Semperoper Ballett, Marcelo Gomes, has once again refashioned the choreography. Various nuances in Gomes’s adaptation serve to spotlight the flowering of the title character as an essential element in the well-known story. In this way, the focus is placed on Princess Aurora’s development from child to young woman – from her christening at the royal court in the circle of good fairies to the curse of the jealous evil fairy Carabosse and the hundred-year slumber from which »Sleeping Beauty« awakens through the prince’s kiss.
»Sleeping Beauty« by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
Choreography by Aaron S. Watkin based on the work of Marius Petipa, adapted by Marcel Gomes
Performance run begins in the Semperoper at 7 pm on Saturday, 9 February 2024
Additional dates in February and March 2024 as indicated in the monthly schedule
Performed by the company of the Semperoper Ballett with students from the Palucca University of Dance. The Staatskapelle will be conducted by Benjamin Pope.
Generously supported by the Semperoper Foundation
Tickets can be purchased online as well as from the Schinkelwache box office on Theaterplatz (+49 (0)351 4911 705). A 3D-seating plan can be viewed on the Semperoper’s online ticket shop to aid your choice of tickets and seats in the auditorium.
Please send any requests for review tickets (along with details of the editorial brief and likely publication dates) to presse@semperoper.de.
High-quality photos and other press materials can be downloaded.
Photo: Scene from »Sleeping Beauty« 2016 © Semperoper Dresden/Ian Whalen.