UpdateHong Kong Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty let down by second half after a superb first
Strong dancing was marred by a rushed and confused second-half narrative in HKB’s production of Vladimir Malakhov’s The Sleeping Beauty
Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) has long needed a new production of The Sleeping Beauty. Featuring Marius Petipa’s sublime choreography and Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, the work is the pinnacle of pure 19th century classical ballet and an essential part of any ballet troupe’s repertoire – as well as a supreme test of its female dancers.
HKB’s 2010 staging by Cynthia Harvey (last revived in 2021) was hampered by eccentric costume designs, including floppy travesties of tutus, and a sub-par version of Act 2. Its predecessor, by then artistic director Stephen Jefferies, was a straightforward reading with a strong narrative and attractive if simpler designs, reflecting the company’s more limited resources at that time.
Hopes that Malakhov’s staging would finally put all the pieces together were raised by an excellent first half, then let down by a disappointing second. However, The Sleeping Beauty is all about the dancing and this was consistently strong. Led by a splendidly assured Princess Aurora from prima ballerina Ye Feifei with charismatic guest artist Davi Ramos as her Prince, the whole company danced with impressive sharpness, precision and attack.