Experience The Magic Of The Sleeping Beauty Ballet

The San Francisco Symphony harks back to an era of timeless classical elegance as they revive The Sleeping Beauty for the 2026/27 season, with choreography by ballet master Marius Petipa as translated by Helgi Tomasson, who transports the tale to an 18th-century Russian court with all the trappings of Peter and Catherine the Great. One of the most exquisite ballets in the canon, it also represents a career-defining challenge for the ballerina who takes on the central role of the cursed princess Aurora.

What Is The Story?

Tchaikovsky's much-loved, sweeping score, as well as virtuosic displays of the classical medium, punctuate the age-old tale of Aurora, a princess whose birth draws much celebration from her kingdom. After five faeries bestow their gifts of beauty, courage, and kindness upon her, the evil faerie Carabosse crashes the christening, furious that she did not receive an invitation. In her rage, she places a curse on Aurora, stating that at the age of 16, she is to prick her finger on a spindle and die. Luckily, the powerful Lilac Faerie softens the blow, altering the curse to cause a peaceful 100-year sleep for the young princess. As with most fairytales, Aurora cannot escape her fate, but a handsome young prince and true love's kiss await to break the sleepy spell...