Don Quixote (ballet)
Don Quixote is a ballet by choreographer Marius Petipa to music by Léon Minkus. The libretto is based on the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.
The premiere of the work took place at the Bolshoi Theatre on December 26, 1869. Petipa and Minkus extended the work more than once or wrote parts around. The versions listed today are mostly based on the 1900 by choreographer Alexander Gorsky in the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow presented choreography.
Action
Figures Don Quixote and Sancho Panza his companion are installed only marginally in the ballet act. Mainly is the ballet of love between the beautiful innkeeper's daughter Kitri and Basil the young barber.
Prologue
A hut in the Spanish province
Don Quixote wakes up from a nightmare and calls his friend Sancho Panza. In his mental derangement he wants to take off in order to free the maiden Dulcinea, he dreamed he out of the hands of the Giants.
Act I
The marketplace of a village
The beautiful and clever Kitri, the daughter of the innkeeper, loves Basil, who earns his living as a barber. However Kitris father can not stand the poor Basil and would they prefer to marry the old, goofy, but rich Gamache. However, Kitri and Basil still sneak his father's marriage blessing and eventually flee from the village.
Second Act
The Gypsy Camp
Kitri and Basil find shelter with the gypsies which store it at the Rheinfelden front of the village. Although they are pursued by Gamache and Don Quixote, but not recognized due to her disguise as gypsies. When a gust of wind the nearby windmills set in motion, Don Quixote believes faced the giant. In an attempt to fight against selbige, he gets a shock from the head and faints.
Act Three
Don Quixote's dream
In the dream appear to Don Quixote the wine goddesses ( myriads ) and their queen Dulcinea. Also Kitri and Cupid Cupid are part of the entourage.
Act Four
In a tavern
Kitri and Basil secretly return to their village, where Kitris father finally but the marriage officially allowed.
Act Five
The Wedding
With a large hard Kitri and Basil celebrate their wedding.
Style
The imitation of Spanish dance styles incorporated unmistakable in the choreography. Again and again show the dancers poses and movements that are borrowed from Flamenco and other Spanish dances. Are typical poses with supporters on the waist is hand or straight arms ( the arms are in classical ballet usually slightly bent ). The posture in La Faraona style of flamenco can be seen: Head and leg position are in profile, while the upper body is turned to the audience. Large parts of the work are so-called character dance. The dancers wear this no ballet, but high heel shoes and traditional dress, inspired costumes.
Famous passages
Some parts of the work are particularly well known and are presented regardless of the connection piece in ballet evenings or in the context of competitions:
- Kitris solo from the first act
- Variation of Dulcinea from the 3rd act
- Wedding Pas -de- deux from Act 5