‘Sleeping Beauty’ ballet set for Bangor Opera House

BANGOR – In the ballet world, “The Sleeping Beauty” is much more than another fairy tale or an alternative to “Cinderella.” Of all the classic ballets in the world, “The Sleeping Beauty” is the quintessence of classical ballet, with four full acts and as many scenery changes.

Bossov Ballet Theatre of Pittsfield will bring the ballet to life at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 2-3, at the Bangor Opera House, according to theater founder Andrei Bossov.

Of Tchaikovsky’s three great works, “Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake” and “The Sleeping Beauty,” only “The Sleeping Beauty” enjoyed the full collaboration of Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa, who reigned as chief choreographer and director of Russia’s Imperial Theaters for 34 years.

“The Sleeping Beauty” is considered the highlight of Petipa’s long and distinguished career. Petipa, who also wrote “The Sleeping Beauty” libretto, dictated to Tchaikovsky each measure, including instrumentation, to make a perfect match of music, dancing and drama. In terms of artistic collaboration it was a first – and last. First performed in St. Petersburg in 1890, nothing on its scale has been done since.

The choreography will be the original Petipa, under the auspices of Bossov – veteran of St. Petersburg’s Maryinsky Theatre where “The Sleeping Beauty” opened – and his faculty of Russian professionals.

Steven Hammell, a principal with the Ballet of Charleston, S.C., will dance the part of Catalabutte, the palace Master of Ceremonies. Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty, will be danced alternately by Amy Schulster of New York and Laura Thorup of Orleans, Mass.

The mythical King Florestan XXIV, father of Princess Aurora, will be portrayed by Edouard Palei, a former soloist with Leonid Jakobson’s St. Petersburg “Choreographic Miniatures.” And Russian veteran Vladimir Karpov, formerly of the Russian Kirov Ballet, will be Carabosse, the evil fairy who puts the curse on Aurora – the curse that leads to the pricked finger and the long sleep.

One of the ballet’s most complex and powerful variations is the dance of the Lilac Fairy. Avital Zeitsler of Richmond Hill, Ontario; Danielle Harper of Augusta; and Megan Edwards of Ann Arbor, Mich., will take turns in the role through the span of Bossov’s summer performances in Bangor and Waterville.

Among the show’s most romantic moments is “The Sleeping Beauty Waltz,” danced by a corps of 26 ballerinas and six men, all to Tchaikovsky’s flowing three-four time.

For tickets to “The Sleeping Beauty,” call the Bangor Opera House, 942-3333, where tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children.