Sleeping Beauty (Simpson), Complete

Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Sleeping Beauty" based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault was composed in 1889 as a commissioned work for the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. The premiere took place on January 15, 1890 under the composer's direction. The work is considered the pinnacle of classical Russian ballet and shows Tchaikovsky at the height of his melodic and orchestral mastery.

The complete ballet music comprises a prologue and three acts with a total of 30 numbers. From the atmospheric introduction through the famous waltzes to the characteristic dances of the fairy tale characters in the finale, Tchaikovsky unfolds a fascinating panorama of orchestral colors. Particularly well-known are the waltz from the first act, the "Rose Adagio" and the grand waltz from the third act.

The present edition after Simpson offers the complete score of this monumental work, which can be performed both in concert and on stage. With a running time of approximately two and a half hours, it places high demands on orchestra and conductor, but rewards with one of the most beautiful and melody-rich scores in ballet literature.