Prologue: A princess is born
Once upon a time there was an enchanted kingdom far, far away. The King and Queen, to their delight, had a daughter, Princess Aurora. Three fairies are invited to be her godmothers: Volante, the fairy of courage; Grazia, the fairy of joy and beauty; and the most powerful of the three, Syrene, the fairy of love. Each of them brings a wonderful gift to the Princess. Volante gives her a wise and pure unicorn, Grazia gives her beauty and a swarm of butterflies of happiness and joy. But just as Syrene is about to give her gift, in storms Carabosse, the fairy of fear. She launches into an enraged complaint to the King and Queen for not inviting her.
It is then discovered that Catalabutte, the Master of Ceremonies, had forgotten to send her the invitation. Furious, Carabosse curses the little Princess: one day she will prick her finger with a poisoned rose thorn and die! Fortunately, Syrene has not yet given her gift to the Princess. Now it is her turn, and her power commutes the curse. Although the Princess will prick her finger, she will not die. Instead, she will fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years and awaken when a Prince gives her love’s first kiss.
Terrified, the King orders every single rose bush in the kingdom to be destroyed. At the same time in a deep dungeon, Carabosse and her imps prepare a poisoned rose for Aurora.
Act I : Destiny
It is Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, and the King has organized a splendid party. The handsome company includes also Aurora’s happy cousin, but above all there are four Princes, each from a different point of the compass, who have come to ask for her hand in marriage.
Suddenly, an old woman enshrouded in a robe appears in the crowd. She gives the Princess a blossoming rose. Aurora, never having seen such a wonderful flower before, takes it with fascination and dances while holding it in her hand.
The court, remembering Carabosse’s curse, is horrified, and everyone tries to take the rose from Aurora, but it is too late: the Princess has pricked herself! The poison takes effect, Aurora sinks to the floor, and the old woman casts aside her robe and is revealed as Carabosse! Believing Aurora to be dead, she makes her escape. Syrene reminds everyone that Aurora is not dead. She will now sleep for a hundred years to be awakened by love’s first kiss. The Princess is carried to her bed, and Syrene enchants the entire castle to fall asleep until the Princess wakes.
Act II : The Vision
One hundred years later, Prince Desiré is out hunting with his friends and courtiers. Suddenly he sees a golden deer. They all chase after the fabulous creature, but a herd of deer bars their passage. Approaching the golden deer, the Prince draws his bow, but then Syrene appears. The golden deer is her messenger.
Now alone with the Prince, the fairy presents him with an enchanted vision and allows him to enter the spell, where he can dance with Aurora. The Prince also learns that Aurora sleeps in a castle covered with wild roses, guarded by the fearsome Carabosse.
When the vision is dispelled, Syrene guides the Prince to the castle. He is challenged by Carabosse but defeats her. The young man kneels by the Princess’s bed and kisses her. She wakes, and so does the entire court. Thus love conquers fear.
Act III : The Wedding
Princess Aurora and Prince Desiré have invited numerous guests to their wedding, including Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots and the Blue Bird. There is much rejoicing; love has triumphed over all.
– based on the script by Anneli Mäkelä