ART - PNB (Pacific Northwest Ballet)

DON QUIXOTE

February 3–12, 2012

Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky

"As bright a hope as any today to bring new choreographic life to ballet." (New York Times)

Music: Ludwig Minkus, with additional music by Anton Simon, Vladimir Shiskov, Cesare Pugni, Yuli Gerber, Eduard Napravnik, Riccardo Drig
Choreography: Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky, with additional choreography and staging by Alexei Ratmansky
Staging: Sandrine Leroy, Sonja Marchiolli, Judy Maelor-Thomas
Scenic and Costume Design: Jérôme Kaplan
Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls
PNB Premiere

PNB is proud to present the American premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s full-length Don Quixote, created for Dutch National Ballet in 2010. The Russian-born choreographer blends historical segments with his own fluent and inventive classical technique for "the best version of this classical ballet...a display of exciting and hot-blooded dance. At the premiere, the audience roared with enthusiasm." (De Telegraaf). Based on an episode from Cervantes' famous novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha, the story follows its title hero, a middle-aged country gentleman absorbed with tales of chivalry and a dream-lover, Dulcinea. With his squire Sancho Panza, Don Quixote ventures to the legendary city of Barcelona and discovers spirited young lovers Kitri and Basilio. When Kitri's father plots her marriage to a wealthy fool, the couple hides with a troupe of actors whose play-acting causes the Don to be transported by visions fair and foul. Kitri is eventually discovered and feigns a broken heart when Basilio pretends to stab himself in despair. Don Quixote intervenes for the lovers so persuasively that Kitri’s father must give his consent, and all celebrate the wedding as the Don resumes his quest.

Don Quixote's bravura classical dances showcase soloist virtuosity as dramatically as its mime and humor reveal accomplished character players. At the center of the ballet’s passionate Castilian heart, Ludwig Minkus' rousing score endows each scene with rich atmosphere, deepened by Jérôme Kaplan’s (Roméo et Juliette) vibrant costumes and amber-washed sets. All elements combine with Ratmansky's innately expressive movement to treat theater-lovers of all ages to a first look at this smash hit.

http://www.pnb.org/Season/11-12/DonQuixote/