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

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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

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