Don Quixote

There are many productions of this popular ballet performance. The simple plot, inspired by Cervantes’ novel, and Minkus’ brilliant orchestral score continue to inspire choreographers to create new original productions.

A new edition of the play about the noble knight from La Mancha was staged by People’s Artist of the USSR Vyacheslav Gordeev for the Russian Ballet Theatre. The premiere was timed to coincide with the celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the great Marius Petipa. Gordeev skilfully embodied the comedic-dramatic twists and turns of the plot into brilliant choreographic solutions, making the performance more clear and dynamic. And he even added two new characters: Don Quixote in his youth and his niece, the nun Juanita, and composed original variations and choreos for them.

The ballet tells about the passionate love of the innkeeper’s daughter Kitri and the merry barber Basilio. They cannot be together because of the will of the girl’s father, the innkeeper Lorenzo, who wants his daughter to marry a rich groom, the stupid Gamache. The brave and noble knight Don Quixote takes the side of the lovers and helps them unite their hearts. The story of the lovers ends with a dance celebration — youth and happiness rejoice in the city square.

The performance is filled with the atmosphere of a Spanish fiesta, life-affirming energy, humour and fun.