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[MakarovaFan]

I adore the music to Sleeping Beauty and believe it is Tchaikovsky's greatest masterpiece.  However, I've never liked the music he wrote for Prince Desire's solo in Act III.  The setting is a wedding and most of the music is in major keys and celebratory in tone.  But Desire's solo, at least to my ears, sticks out like a sore thumb.  It's not a great melody and the feel of it is, for want of a better word, harsh. I've often wondered why Petipa and Pavel Gerdt (the original Desire) green lighted the variation. Can anyone shed some light on this music for me?  Thanks in advance.