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Even ahead of the premiere, it is clear that The Sleeping Beauty goes beyond the scope of a standard repertoire title, given that all performances have been sold out months in advance, placing this production among the most sought-after and significant ballet projects of recent years. At the same time, this is also one of the largest and most demanding ballet productions staged at the CNT in Zagreb in the past decade.

The new Sleeping Beauty is conceived by the renowned choreographer and director Paul Chalmer, an artist with an extensive international career, who returns in this project to the classical ballet canon inspired by the legacy of Marius Petipa. His interpretation offers a lavish, visually striking and dramaturgically refined revival of this timeless fairy tale, highlighting its universal themes, such as the struggle between good and evil, the power of love, the passage of time and longing.

The Theatre Breakfast offered audiences and the media a unique insight into the creative process behind the production. Participants included Paul Chalmer, choreographer and director; Anna Kontek, set and costume designer; conductor Mikhail Agrest; soloists Natalia Kosovac, Miruna Miciu and Lucija Radić Pálinkó; and Ballet Director Massimiliano Volpini. The discussion was moderated by Marta Brkljačić.

Particular emphasis was placed on the outstanding, masterful work of the set and costume workshops of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. This was an exceptionally demanding and long-term process that lasted for months and involved numerous theatre artisans, from tailors and seamstresses to painters, carpenters and other specialised workshops of the CNT. Each costume and set element was created through dedicated craftsmanship, with meticulous attention to detail, texture and stylistic precision, resulting in an exceptional level of artistic and artisanal quality.

“We have beautiful set elements as well as costumes, all created by the CNT workshop teams. Everything is handmade, and I am absolutely delighted with their work,” said Anna Kontek, set and costume designer.

The CNT Ballet soloists also mentioned the challenges of interpretation. “Carabosse is not a conventional villain – she is manipulative and authoritative, but also refined, and she embodies our fears. I love performing her, and in my work I rely both on the choreographer’s guidance and on the music to shape the role in the right way,” Lucija Radić Pálinkó explained.

The title role of Aurora is performed by Natalia Kosovac: “My greatest dream was to dance The Sleeping Beauty, to have the opportunity to be Aurora and to work with Paul in order to find my own Aurora within myself, because Paul allows us to be ourselves.”

Choreographer Paul Chalmer emphasised the enduring power of this ballet masterpiece: “The Sleeping Beauty withstands the weight of countless versions. The myth of the eternal struggle between good and evil continues to live on, expressed through the poetry of dancing bodies, while the depth of its unchanged charm emerges from images such as youth blossoming through the warmth of a kiss, for only a heroic desire for love can break the icy oblivion created by hatred. For me, the key question is how to present to a third-millennium audience the true and living qualities of this masterpiece, a fantastic ballet heritage and an eternal story of both an intimate and a collective dream.”

Participants also spoke about the relationship between tradition and contemporaneity, as well as the artistic decisions shaping the new Sleeping Beauty, emphasising the importance of preserving ballet heritage through a contemporary theatrical language.

The visual identity of the production, in synergy with the musical direction of conductors Mikhail Agrest and Vjekoslav Babić and the performances of the Ballet ensemble accompanied by the Opera Orchestra, creates a rich and evocative stage world. The technical demands and interpretative complexity of the roles further confirm the high artistic level of this production.

Judging by the strong audience interest, as well as the ambition and scale of the production, the premiere on 10 April already stands out as one of the highlights of the theatre season. The new Sleeping Beauty confirms the continued artistic and production growth of the CNT Ballet in Zagreb, as well as its strong presence on both the national and international stage.