Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (complete ballet recorded in 1994)

Marius Petipa's demanding but enchanting choreography of Tchaikovsky's romantic fairytale The Sleeping Beauty is one of the best-loved of all classical ballets. This recording of Anthony Dowell's gloriously romantic 1994 production, with charming, dreamlike designs by Maria Bjørnson, features an all-star cast led by Viviana Durante as a charismatic Princess Aurora, Zoltán Solymosi as a delightful Prince Florimund and Anthony Dowell as a wonderfully dishevelled Carabosse. The Royal Ballet, in exceptionally fine form, is beautifully accompanied by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conducted by Barry Wordsworth.

'Viviana Durante, who replaces the injured Darcey Bussell, is outstanding as Aurora. Radiant and youthful, she dances with an ease and naturalness that is enchanting. She also takes astonishing risks, holding a difficult balance for an extra few seconds while maintaining immaculately clean lines.' Evening Standard

"Viviana Durante, a First Principal in the Royal Ballet by the age of 21, was, before falling out spectacularly with the management in 1999, one of the company's most admired artists. Along with Darcey Bussell, she is widely credited with making a key contribution to the revival of the Royal Ballet's fortunes in the 1990s. In this production she dances with both the technical precision and the great elegance for which she was always renowned. From a technical point of view, hers is a virtually flawless performance." (MusicWeb Sept 2009)