ACT I
In the palace of King Florestan the birth of Princess Aurore, named after the dawn, is celebrated. The guests have arrived bringing magnificent gifts. Among the invited there are also six fairies - the godmothers-to-be of the little princess. Only the wicked fairy Carabosse has been forgotten to be invited by Catalabutte, the master of ceremonies.
The fairies grant their generous gifts to Aurore - the princess shall become extraordinarily pretty and noble, cheerful and benevolent, and she will succeed in anything she would do. Suddenly, the wicked fairy Carabosse, angered by Catalabutte's absentmindedness, arrives and curses the newborn princess: at the age of sixteen, she shall prick her finger on a spindle and die. Everybody is frightened by this spell. Fortunately, the Lilac Fairy has not yet granted her gift to the princess. However, she is not able to abolish the curse, she can only extenuate it - Aurore will not die from the prick of the spindle, she will only fall asleep for a hundred years until a handsome and fearless prince kisses her awake. Furious, Carabosse leaves the palace followed by her suite. King Florestan orders that all spindles be locked away and forbids his people to ever use them again.
ACT II
Scene 1
In the palace the celebration of the sixteenth birthday of Princess Aurore takes place. Four foreign princes woo her and offer her exquisite roses. Aurore is not sure whose proposal to accept. Everybody dances and rejoices. At the culmination of the celebration an old, veiled woman arrives and offers Aurore a toy she has never seen before. It is a silver spindle. The courtiers, aware of Carabosse's curse, hurry to the princess, but it is too late - Aurore has already pricked her finger and falls asleep instantly. The old woman unveils her face - it is Carabosse. The guests panic. Suddenly, the Lilac Fairy appears and reminds everybody about her gift - Aurore will not die, she will only fall asleep. With a single wave of her magic wand, everybody in the kingdom falls in a deep sleep. To avoid intruders, the Lilac Fairy hides the palace under rose-trees, vines and bramble-bushes impossible to penetrate by people and animals.
Scene 2
Hundred years have passed. In the nearby forest Prince Désiré and his suite are hunting. The Désiré dreams about an unknown beauty. The Lilac Fairy appears and through her magic makes the Prince see the sleeping Aurore. The Prince is enraptured by her beauty. He begs the Lilac Fairy to make this vision a reality.
Scene 3
The Lilac Fairy leads Prince Désiré to Florestan's sleeping kingdom. They reach the palace and face the vicious sorcery of Carabosse alone. The Prince fights the wicked fairy, then roams the palace in search of his sleeping beauty. He finds her in a luxurious room. Désiré falls in love at first sight and kisses Aurore awake. Along with the Princess, everybody in the palace returns to life. Désiré and Aurore confess their love and the King and the Queen bless the young couple.
ACT III
Aurore and Désiré celebrate their wedding. Among their guests there are several fairy tale characters: Princess Florine and the Blue Bird, Puss-in-Boots and the White Tabby Cat, Little Red Riding Hood and the Gray Wolf, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Bluebeard and his wife. All the fairies including the Lilac Fairy, the honorary guest of the event, congratulate the young couple. Aurore and Désiré thank their guests who praise the young couple that has overcome the dark forces with the help of the Lilac Fairy.
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