ON THIS DAY … 33 years ago Marcia Haydée’s The Sleeping Beauty saw the light of day. Having danced in numerous versions during the course of her career, the prima ballerina / ballet director / choreographer finally decided to mount her own production of this beloved fairytale in 1987. And how she did it! She created a hugely successful interpretation which has made The Sleeping Beauty into one of the most beloved ballets in the Stuttgart Ballet’s repertory. The original cast included Annie Mayet as a dew-kissed Princess Aurora, today’s Artistic Director of the Stuttgart Ballet Tamas Detrich as the charming Prince who awakens her with a kiss, Marion Jäger as the beautiful and benevolent Lilac Fairy and last, but surely not least, Richard Cragun as the evil fairy Carabosse. Haydée’s unique characterization of this role provided Cragun with another highlight in an already stellar career and contributed greatly to the popularity of the work. To top it all off, Jürgen Roses breathtaking sets and costumes transported the viewer into a fairy tale setting which even Hollywood can’t beat.

Photo: Catherine Batcheller, Richard Cragun, © Gundel Kilian