SamD

The version with Sir Frederick Ashton - 1955 NBC Television broadcast of the Royal Ballet's Sleeping Beauty - is also a good one I think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5j7gkMxZ0Y&feature=colike (this is a link to part 1 out of 5 on Youtube)

Do the faries in act 1 (discussed in this thread) corresponsd at all with the faries in act 3 (gold, sapphire, silver, diamond)?

Katie

No the fairies in act 3 are the metal (gold, silver) and jewel (sapphire, and diamond) fairies. These fairies are to bless the marriage of Prince Desire and Aurora (I'm not sure of the indvidual gifts they bestow upon the couple though). I hope I have answered your question .