Patrice Bart – Ludvig Minkus
Don Quixote
an adventure under the spanish sun
Don Quixote (1605), a novel by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, is one of the great classics of world literature. It is brimming with stories suitable for dancing, and choreographers have been drawing on it since the 18th century, and it is also one of the landmarks of classical ballet.
The current version is based on a choreography created by Marius Petipa, who is sometimes referred to as the father of classical ballet, in St Petersburg in the late 19th century. It focuses on the story in the novel where the lovely Kitri and her impoverished lover Basilio require the help of Don Quixote, the Knight of the Woeful Countenance, and his servant Sancho Panza in order to get married.
The stunning staging at the FNOB, the virtuoso numbers and the funny plot twists captivate audiences time and time again. No wonder that Don Quixote is always sold out!
“The result is an ideal interpretation of a classic ballet, which deserves to remain in our repertoire for at least another two decades.”
– Helsingin Sanomat
synopsis
Kitri and Basilio live in the village of La Mancha and are in love. Kitri’s father Lorenzo would prefer to marry his daughter off to the rich Camacho rather than to the impoverished Basilio. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are travelling the country and arrive in Kitri’s home village. Don Quixote imagines that she is his adored beloved Dulcinea and decides to stay in the village to help the girl.
Read longer synopsis
Basilio and Kitri escape to a Gypsy camp, where their pursuers find them. They manage to escape. Meanwhile, Don Quixote, in a confused state, fights against the windmills and sees visions of Dulcinea living in the Kingdom of Dryads.
Lorenzo and Camacho pick up the trail of Kitri and Basilio. They attempt to force Kitri to marry Camatho, but then Basilio stabs himself apparently fatally with a razor. Kitri asks Don Quixote to persuade her father to approve of their marriage in the groom’s final moments of life. Once Lorenzo has given his promise, Basilio leaps up and reveals the cunning deception of the young couple. Kitri and Basilio marry, and Don Quixote has another vision of Dulcinea that guides him to further adventures.
A full synopsis and background information are available in the program booklet.
From a literary classic to a ballet classic
gallery
creative team
- Choreography
- Patrice Bart
- Choreography, spanish dances
- José de Udaeta
- Music
- Ludwig Minkus
- Sets
- Ramón B. Ivars
- Costumes
- Ramón B. Ivars
- Lighting design
- John B. Read
- Make-up design
- Helena Lindgren
- Conductor
- Tom Seligman
cast
Cast will be published later.
listen to don quixote
You must accept functional cookies to listen to the playlist. To modify your cookie settings, go to cookie settings at the bottom of the page.
tickets and performances
Gift packages are available to this performance. A gift package includes ticket(s) to the best seats in the stalls as well as interval refreshments from a buffet: coffee/tea and Opera cake(s). The offer is valid until 24 December.
How to buy a gift package
Choose your seats from the stalls in price category B or C and select ticket type ‘GIFT PACKAGE’. The offer does not apply to premieres. Package availability is limited.
The keys to an entertaining evening
The performance takes place on our Main Stage, which has no fewer than 1,300 seats in its auditorium. Please note that the 3rd balcony is very high up. It provides an impressive view, but the front-row seats on this level may not suit those with a fear of heights. Explore the Main Stage and find out more about where to sit. You can also compare the view from different parts of the auditorium.
Price categories: Seats in the auditorium are priced according to the view of the stage and divided into eight price categories (A–H). In addition to seat location, the price is affected by the performance date and demand. Only standard-priced tickets are available in the lowest price categories (F–H).
Discounts:
Discounts are available for selected productions, performances, and seats in the Stalls and the 1st and 2nd Balconies, unless otherwise indicated.
-Pensioners: €10 discount per ticket for selected seats in the Stalls and the 1st Balcony. The discount is available to all holders of the card for national pension recipients and anyone aged 65 or over.
-Students, military and non-military servicemen: 40% discount on the full ticket price.
-Children and those aged 20 and under: 40–50% discount on the full ticket price.
-Same-day tickets: A special rate of €30 per ticket is available for those aged 20 and under, students, military and non-military servicemen, the unemployed, and pensioners. The discount applies to seats in the Stalls, no earlier than 12 hours before the performance and subject to availability.
Please note that full-price and concessionary tickets for under-20s, students, and pensioners can be exchanged in our online store free of charge up to 24 hours before the performance. The value of the ticket(s) is credited to your customer account for later use.
Children and young people up to the age of 20 are eligible for a 40–50% discount on ticket prices.
Please note that children under the age of 5 are not admitted to Main Stage performances. The age recommendation for each production can be found at the top of its dedicated page.
For the best view, we recommend seats in the front Stalls or the centre of the 1st Balcony. If you’re unsure which seats would be most suitable, our customer service team will be happy to help you find the best options.
To ensure an enjoyable and memorable visit, see our Visiting with children page for more tips.
You can easily purchase accessible seats either through our online store or customer service. On the auditorium map, you can check the locations of accessible seats in the Main Stage auditorium (pdf). The accessible seats are marked with wheelchair icons to make choosing your seat easier.
Read more detailed instructions for purchasing accessible seats and ensure your visit is effortlessly enjoyable from start to finish.
The programme booklet provides background information about the production, its creators, and the story. It is published on the day of the premiere and can be purchased before the performance from the customer service desk in the Töölönlahti lobby, the sales desk at the Mannerheimintie entrance, all open counters of the Opera Restaurant, and selected members of our lobby staff. The price of the programme booklet is €7.
You can also buy the programme booklet in advance from our customer service desk or online via the Order refreshments page. See more detailed instructions here on how to purchase the programme booklet on the Order refreshments page.
The digital cast details for each opera and ballet, including the evening’s cast and creative team, are published online no later than on the day of the performance (please note that the link opens in a separate window). Cast details are also available on the displays and touch screens in the foyers, as well as under the My events tab in the mobile app.
Enhance your experience with refreshments. You can enjoy refreshments before the performance or during the interval. We recommend placing your order in advance, either through our online store or by calling our customer service. If tables are still available, online sales close no later than 24 hours before the performance.
Using the Opera&Ballet mobile app, you can order interval refreshments to a pick-up counter until shortly before the performance begins. Learn more about pick-up orders.
The Opera House is located by Töölönlahti bay. Our address is Helsinginkatu 58, which is well served by public transport.
The main entrance on the Mannerheimintie side usually opens 1.5 hours before the start of a Main Stage performance. Please make sure you arrive in good time, at least 15 minutes before the performance begins. Latecomers are only admitted after the interval so as not to disturb the performance.
How to dress for the performance? Can I wear perfume? Do I need to pay for the cloakroom? Find answers to these questions and more on our Tips for visitors page. We have put together a comprehensive guide to help make your visit to the Opera House a success.