La Belle au bois dormant (opera) facts for kids
La Belle au bois dormant is a famous opera from France. Its name means "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" in English. An opera is like a play where the story is told mostly through singing, often with a full orchestra. This opera has three parts, called acts.
The music for La Belle au bois dormant was written by a composer named Michele Carafa. The story for the opera, called the libretto, was written in French by François-Antonine-Eugène de Planard. It is based on the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault.
This opera was first performed a long time ago, on March 2, 1825. It was shown at the famous Paris Opera house in France, specifically in a hall called the Salle Le Peletier. A very well-known singer of the time, Adolphe Nourrit, played the important role of the Prince. He was a tenor, which is a high male singing voice. The dances in the opera were created by Pierre Gabriel Gardel. The beautiful stage designs were made by Pierre-Luc-Charles Cicéri.
Main Characters
In La Belle au bois dormant, there are several important characters, each sung by a different type of voice:
- Aurora: She is the main character, the sleeping beauty. Her part is sung by a soprano, which is a high female singing voice.
- The Queen: Her role is also sung by a soprano.
- The Prince: He is the hero who awakens Aurora. His part is sung by a tenor, a high male singing voice.
- Carabosse: This character is often a villain or a magical figure. The role is sung by a baritone, which is a medium-range male singing voice.
- King Florestan: He is the King in the story. His part is also sung by a baritone.
