The Sleeping Beauty

We typically associate this score with the visual spectacle of classical ballet, yet hearing the music in isolation allows you to appreciate the intricate details of the orchestration. Throughout the three-hour duration, you will hear how the composer uses distinct instrumental themes to represent the struggle between good and evil. The strings often carry the sweeping, lyrical melodies that define the narrative, while the brass and percussion provide the dramatic tension for the darker moments of the plot. Listen for the delicate woodwind flourishes that signal the presence of the Lilac Fairy, contrasted against the jagged rhythms that accompany her adversary. In this concert setting, the focus shifts from the physical grace of dancers to the harmonic shifts and instrumental colours that build the atmosphere of the forest and the palace. The evening is shaped by the progression from the celebratory opening to the grand, final wedding celebrations, providing a chance to experience the narrative solely through sound.

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is the resident ensemble for one of the world's leading lyric theatres. While they are usually found in the orchestra pit accompanying grand opera and ballet, they are renowned for their technical precision and rich, symphonic sound. For this performance, they are led by conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Jurowski is a highly regarded figure in the international music scene, known for his rigorous approach to score analysis and his ability to draw out clear, vivid textures from an orchestra, particularly within the nineteenth-century Russian repertoire.

This performance takes place at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The total running time is approximately 180 minutes, which includes intervals. Given the three-hour length, this represents a significant evening of music, though the familiar melodies make it accessible for those new to this style of orchestral work. The venue does not enforce a specific dress code, so you will find most attendees in smart-casual attire. As a concert performance of a ballet score, there are no dancers or staged sets; the focus remains entirely on the live music and the conductor's direction.