The Bolshoi Ballet: DON QUIXOTE

Director: New choreographic version: Alexei Fadeyechev.

175, PG

Screenwriter: Original choreography: Marius Petipa, Alexander Gorsky. Libretto by Marius Petipa after the novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Musical score: Ludwig Minkus.

Cast: Ekaterina Krysanova and Semyon Chudin.

 

The dazzling dancers of Moscow’s legendary Bolshoi Ballet in an encore performance of Don Quixote, based on the original choreography by Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky. Cervantes’ early 17th century novel of an idealistic knight swept away by romantic dreams of chivalry, has inspired painters (Dali and Picasso), composers (Strauss and Ravel), and of course choreographers, from George Balanchine to the Bolshoi’s Alexei Fadeyechev. From Quixote’s dramatic tilting at windmills, his earthy companion Pancho Sanza, and the charming innkeeper’s daughter Kitri who the knight believes is his dream lover, the production shines with lightness and wit.

“Offers sensational dancing – virtuosic, beautiful and open-hearted – created to show off ballet as the most refined and communicative of the arts.” – Sarah Crompton, Guardian. ✰✰✰✰