Ivan Vsevolozhsky, Director of the Imperial Theatres in Russia, commissioned Tchaikovsky to write the music for a libretto based on Charles Perrault’s La Belle au bois dormant (The Sleeping Beauty). Perrault’s La Belle au bois dormant was the first of eight stories in stories in a book titled Histoires ou Contes du temps pass (Stories and Tales of the Past). Unlike Swan Lake, the original productions creation was documented in detail. Once the libretto was complete, Vsevolozhsky, Tchaikovsky and choreographer, Marius Pepita, met in the late months of 1888 to collaborate on the ballet’s production. Tchaikovsky completed the music and orchestration in mid 1889 which gave way for Pepita to plan his choreography. Pepita finished the choreography in September and four months later the ballet was ready to be performed in front of an audience.
Much of the original production exists today, although variations do occur – some dances may be rearranged or left out entirely. It all depends on the ballets producer. However the music remains a constant. There are two major themes in The Sleeping Beauty; a sweet and gentle theme for the Lilac Fairy and a dark, heartless theme for Carabosse. The brilliant music crated by Tchaikovsky adds a great deal of emotion to the ballet and its importance is equal to the dancing itself.
