jonac Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Does anyone know the names given to the five fairies (ie excluding the Lilac Fairy) in the first performances of The Sleeping Beauty in St Petersburg in 1890, or is able to refer me to a webpage or whatever that gives the names. I've tried to find out and have come across the following names for fairies one to five: the Tender fairy, the Playful, the Generous, the Brave, the Carefree (presumably these names relate to the gifts they brought, ie tenderness, playfulness, etc), but I need to know whether these names are correct. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Candide, Fleur de Farine, Violente, Canaries and Breadcrumb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 I think those last two are: Canari (check spelling) qui chante and Miettes qui tombent, if we're sticking with French, but I wouldn't like to guarantee if they were the ones used in 1890. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 My source is a translation of the libretto from the first production. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 Jonac, I think the names you give are probably those used by Russian companies much later on. This link shows (I hope) the names used originally and in some of the best known later productions up to the mid-1960s - later scholarship may have overwritten some of them, of course. (link comes originally from Dance & Dancers, quoted on balletalert by rg ) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 You have inspired me to do a little research as the subject is so interesting. I was thinking of posting that link, but you beat me to it Jane. Here I have copied and pasted from several different sources. The final comment in italics for some names is taken from a Dance Study Aid pubished by Dancing Times in June 1999 . I feel knowing what the Fairies represent helps understand the choreography so much better. Candide (honesty, purity) Candide - Fairy of Purity Candide, and her name translates as “candour”. As her name suggests, her gift would be the gift of purity and honesty, sincerity and integrity. “Conventional movements such as the ‘rocking’ and the ‘caressing’ ones …………stand respectively for ‘baby and ‘purity’.” * * * Coulante (flowing), Fleur de farine Coulante - Fairy of vitality Fleur de farine, which translates into “wheat flower”. Traditionally, her gift is the gift of beauty, as face powder was produced from the wheat flowers. * * * The Breadcrumb Fairy - Fairy of Generosity Miettes qui tombent, which literally means “falling breadcrumbs”. She is the embodiment of generosity, as traditional Russian culture views bread as a symbol of welcome and good fortune. As a blessing, breadcrumbs are placed in a baby’s cradle. “and her gift, that of fertility, depicted, according to an ancient tradition, by the act of spreading breadcrumbs on a baby girl.” * * * Canary - Fairy of Eloquence Canari qui chante. Unsurprisingly, her gift to the princess is a lovely, melodious voice. * * * Violente - Fairy of Passion “finger fairy”, as her variation is performed with her index fingers pointing out throughout. Known as Violente, her name means “force”. “used by Petipa to reproduce the negative and positive poles that “generate” electricity. …. portrayal of a ‘sparkling temperament’ ……. inspired by the newly installed electrical lighting at the Maryinsky Theatre” * * * The Lilac Fairy - Fairy of wisdom Lilac Fairy, or La Fee des Lilas. The Lilac Fairy is the leader of all the fairies, and she was supposed to bestow the gift of wisdom upon the princess 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janite Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Thank you for this I have not found good information on the name and character of the fairies before. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonac Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 I thank each of you for the most helpful responses to my question. I lead a ballet appreciation group in north Hertfordshire (my qualifications for doing so are enthusiasm and a love of ballet, not technical understanding) and am planning a closer look at The Sleeping Beauty for when the group is allowed to resume meetings. Again, thank you. On 13/02/2021 at 21:54, alison said: I think those last two are: Canari (check spelling) qui chante and Miettes qui tombent, if we're sticking with French, but I wouldn't like to guarantee if they were the ones used in 1890. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToThePointe Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 This is slightly off topic, but I have always hated the solo for the musical fairy (both the music and the choreography). The only dancer I've seen change my mind on this was Sae Maeda, whose beauty and elegance completely took away from what I usually find so irritating about it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToThePointe Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Actually I also always dread the Lilac Fairy's solo too - it's so difficult and is rarely made to look easy! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 1 hour ago, ToThePointe said: Actually I also always dread the Lilac Fairy's solo too - it's so difficult and is rarely made to look easy! And is rarely done smoothly....that’s how hard it is. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanJL Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 2 hours ago, ToThePointe said: This is slightly off topic, but I have always hated the solo for the musical fairy (both the music and the choreography). The only dancer I've seen change my mind on this was Sae Maeda, whose beauty and elegance completely took away from what I usually find so irritating about it! That's a shame - it's actually my favourite of the fairy variations! Although I have to admit to really enjoying them all, which perhaps isn't a universally held view. I have noticed how difficult the lilac fairy solo looks though. I wonder if anyone has good examples of dancers who have performed this particularly well? I remember enjoying watching Claire Calvert dance it on DVD, but I haven't been back to watch it since I became more familiar with Sleeping Beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Marianela Nuñez is one of the best I’ve seen. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Royal Ballet 1978 In this link you see Marguerite Porter as Lilac Fairy. The film quality is not that good but you can still see how wonderful she is - and all the others too! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanJL Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Thank you both. What a wonderful video, I thoroughly enjoyed that 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 What an amazing roster of fairies! ❤️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToThePointe Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 On 18/02/2021 at 18:02, Pas de Quatre said: Royal Ballet 1978 In this link you see Marguerite Porter as Lilac Fairy. The film quality is not that good but you can still see how wonderful she is - and all the others too! Ok this video changes my mind a lot! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 So many ‘household names’ from that era. Just wish Ann Jenner was in that line up but she’d left for Australia by then. I never saw her dance the Fairy of the Songbirds which I gather was one of her signature roles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irmgard Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 On 18/02/2021 at 15:06, ToThePointe said: Actually I also always dread the Lilac Fairy's solo too - it's so difficult and is rarely made to look easy! The Lilac Fairy variation used in most productions these days is not by Petipa (the original Lilac Fairy, performed by his daughter Marie, was largely a mime role) but based on the one choreographed by Fyodor Lopukhov. And yes, it is exceedingly difficult, especially what are referred to as the Italian fouettés (not fouetté turns but half-turns into attitude derrière). Interestingly, in Diaghilev's 1921 production, this variation was used for a seventh fairy. Diaghilev interpolated the Sugar Plum variation into the production for his Lilac Fairy - Lydia Lopokova. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonac Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 I have the DVD of a 1994 performance of Anthony Dowell's version of Beauty with Benazir Hussein as the Lilac Fairy, and have always enjoyed watching her performance. So happens that her brother is Nasser Hussein the former England cricket captain; fancy how proud parents must have been, son captain of England, daughter ballerina with the Royal Ballet. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 I always think it would help if cast sheets said which fairy is in which colour tutu as I never know which one is which in Sleeping Beauty unless I know the dancers and then in Swan Lake the different Act3 national dances, apart from the Spanish and Russian which are obvious I never know what is Neapolitan or Hungarian, Polish etc... In Sleeping Beauty which fairy is the one that does the flitting dance with "twiddling" fingers solo? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 12 minutes ago, Don Q Fan said: I always think it would help if cast sheets said which fairy is in which colour tutu as I never know which one is which in Sleeping Beauty unless I know the dancers and then in Swan Lake the different Act3 national dances, apart from the Spanish and Russian which are obvious I never know what is Neapolitan or Hungarian, Polish etc... In Sleeping Beauty which fairy is the one that does the flitting dance with "twiddling" fingers solo? In the Royal Ballet’s production, I believe the “Finger Fairy” is the Fairy of the Golden Vine, so it’s the gold and red/brown bodice, a red/brown tutu skirt with golden vine leaves embroidered onto the skirt. Here’s a photo of Leticia Dias as Golden Vine: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 On 14/02/2021 at 12:11, Pas de Quatre said: You have inspired me to do a little research as the subject is so interesting. I was thinking of posting that link, but you beat me to it Jane. Here I have copied and pasted from several different sources. The final comment in italics for some names is taken from a Dance Study Aid pubished by Dancing Times in June 1999 . I feel knowing what the Fairies represent helps understand the choreography so much better. Candide (honesty, purity) Candide - Fairy of Purity Candide, and her name translates as “candour”. As her name suggests, her gift would be the gift of purity and honesty, sincerity and integrity. “Conventional movements such as the ‘rocking’ and the ‘caressing’ ones …………stand respectively for ‘baby and ‘purity’.” * * * Coulante (flowing), Fleur de farine Coulante - Fairy of vitality Fleur de farine, which translates into “wheat flower”. Traditionally, her gift is the gift of beauty, as face powder was produced from the wheat flowers. * * * The Breadcrumb Fairy - Fairy of Generosity Miettes qui tombent, which literally means “falling breadcrumbs”. She is the embodiment of generosity, as traditional Russian culture views bread as a symbol of welcome and good fortune. As a blessing, breadcrumbs are placed in a baby’s cradle. “and her gift, that of fertility, depicted, according to an ancient tradition, by the act of spreading breadcrumbs on a baby girl.” * * * Canary - Fairy of Eloquence Canari qui chante. Unsurprisingly, her gift to the princess is a lovely, melodious voice. * * * Violente - Fairy of Passion “finger fairy”, as her variation is performed with her index fingers pointing out throughout. Known as Violente, her name means “force”. “used by Petipa to reproduce the negative and positive poles that “generate” electricity. …. portrayal of a ‘sparkling temperament’ ……. inspired by the newly installed electrical lighting at the Maryinsky Theatre” * * * The Lilac Fairy - Fairy of wisdom Lilac Fairy, or La Fee des Lilas. The Lilac Fairy is the leader of all the fairies, and she was supposed to bestow the gift of wisdom upon the princess Thanks, PdQ, that’s great. Do we know how these translate into the Royal Ballet’s Fairies? I know Breadcrumb Fairy is Woodland Glade, Canary/Songbird is obvious and Finger Fairy is Golden Vine. I assume Candour/Purity is Crystal Fountain? Leaving Coulante/Fleur de Farine as...Enchanted Garden? 🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 At least the current RB fairy costumes do give you some idea of what each fairy is called. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 The names for RB Sleeping Beauty as listed on the cast for the current streaming (I just watched again) are exactly those as listed for Sadler's Wells Ballet 1946 production, shown in the link that Jane S posted above, with a spreadsheet of various international productions. I am afraid I have never understood why these names were chosen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 (edited) I think it is a pity that Ninette de Valois decided to change the Breadcrumb Fairy (Miettes qui tombent) to the nebulous Fairy of the Woodland Glade. As a result we have lost some of the original choreography with the fairy miming the traditional sprinkling of crumbs over the baby's cradle. The current RB version is much less characterful. In his book, Wrights & Wrongs, Sir Peter describes Pauline Clayden performing this variation, talking all the way through it. "I am scattering breadcrumbs here, I'm scattering breadcrumbs up there, down here and everywhere". I am assuming this was before the so-called "Messel" version. So far as I know, only the Mariinsky perform this solo as writ. Here is Olesya Novikova in the Mariinsky's reconstructed version: Edited March 11, 2021 by James Sp 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 The arms make more sense in that clip, don’t they. I do prefer the “Hop, hop, arabesque” en pointe that Royal’s Woodland Glade does, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janite Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 I have come across this clip of different RB fairies. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 (edited) A lovely clip, but these aren’t the fairy variations. It’s the pas de quatre from act 3 edited to say that this was the clip that came up on my link, although I have since noticed there are others there too. Sorry. Edited March 19, 2021 by Odyssey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janite Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Odyssey said: A lovely clip, but these aren’t the fairy variations. It’s the pas de quatre from act 3 edited to say that this was the clip that came up on my link, although I have since noticed there are others there too. Sorry. You all know so much more than I do. I saw fairies and thought this was what it was. Edited March 19, 2021 by Janite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 3 hours ago, Odyssey said: A lovely clip, but these aren’t the fairy variations. It’s the pas de quatre from act 3 edited to say that this was the clip that came up on my link, although I have since noticed there are others there too. Sorry. It’s the Act 3 pas de quatre that comes up for me, too - although just to add to the confusion, nowadays it’s a pas de trois in the Royal Ballet production; Prince Florestan and his (two) sisters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 If I may digress slightly, who are Florestan and his Sisters? I've always assumed, given the similarity of the prefixes, that they must be Florimund's siblings, but has this ever been stated? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 hour ago, alison said: If I may digress slightly, who are Florestan and his Sisters? I don’t think anyone knows. There’s nothing in any of the main Ashton sources. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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