The Sleeping Beauty (2007 TV Movie) User Reviews

An absolute beauty

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 27 October 2012]

I haven't seen enough Sleeping Beautys on DVD to judge which is the definitive one, but of the four seen so far my favourite is tied between this and the Aurelie Dupont performance. The others were the 1989, which I really liked, and 1982, which I didn't care for, performances. This production is an absolute beauty to behold. The costumes are colourfully lavish and the settings alone are like stepping into a fairy-tale, a feeling you should have with The Sleeping Beauty. The choreography is intimate and graceful, and when it is performed it doesn't feel too clinical or cold. Tchaikovsky's ballet score is timeless, and the orchestral playing and conducting do it justice with controlled legato lines, soaring lyricism, poignant pathos, haunting intensity and rousing stylishness. The performances are also of a high standard. Wonderful especially is Alina Cojacaru, whose Aurora is youthful, very beautiful and tender with a gentle warmth in her presence. I found it remarkable at how her performance of the difficult Rose Adagio was done with such poise. Federico Bonelli is a dashing and heroic Prince with lovely pirouettes, while Marianela Nuñez is every bit of Cojacaru's equal in the technical and beauty department as the Lilac Fairy. The Carabose of Genesia Rosato is danced and played with such relish and sinister presence. The Act 1 Fairy variations were charmingly danced, while the dancing in Act 3 gives the meaning of the term fairy-tale bliss. The standout is Sarah Lamb who is beguiling in the Bluebird variation. In conclusion, a Sleeping Beauty that lives up to the second part of its title. 10/10 Bethany Cox

The definitive Sleeping Beauty

[Red-125 · 10/10 · 1 November 2021]

The Sleeping Beauty (2007) was directed by Ross MacGibbon. It's performed by The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. That tells you that the corps, the orchestra, and the production values will be at the highest level.

All three of the main roles are performed by principal dances of The Royal Ballet. Federico Bonelli is a superb Prince Florimund. The great Romanian ballerina Alina Cojocaru is a wonderful Princess Aurora.

The incomparable Marianela Nuñez portrays the Lilac Fairy, and she represents perfection, as she always does.

If you love ballet, this movie is a must-see. If you don't love ballet, or if you're not certain, this movie will make you a fan. If you hate ballet, then you will hate this movie, because it's the quintessential, definitive ballet.

Sleeping Beauty has a strong IMDb rating of 7.6. I thought it was much better than that, and rated it 10.

Amazing cast, Exquisite production

[liebelers · 10/10 · 2 March 2019]

So glad I recently discovered this taping on Amazon Prime. I saw the same cast live while I was in London, and it was my first experience seeing Sleeping Beauty performed by a world class ballet company. Maybe for this reason it is the production by which I have come to measure all other SB performances, but just maybe it's because it is in my experience a flawless and exquisite production.