Ballet in two acts by Ludwig Minkus

Libretto by Marius Petipa 

Choreography - Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky

First performance - 1869, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow

First performance in Rousse - 9 May 1996, Conductor - Stefan Linev, Choreographic editing and direction - Petar Lukanov based on the classical treatment by Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky, Scenography and costumes - Ivan Popov

Actors 

Don Quixote - Knight of La Mancha

Sancho Panza - his weapon bearer

Kitri - daughter of a pub owner

Basil - barber 

Espada 

Mercedes 

Gamache - rich nobleman

Street dancer

Sovereign

Amur 

Gypsy

Carmencita

Lorenzo - innkeeper, father of Kitri

Short content

Prologue

After reading a bunch of chivalric novels, the dreamy Don Quixote dreams of travels and the beautiful Dulcinea. In order to glorify his name with exploits and win the Lady of his heart, the hidalgo sets out on the road.

First act

First scene 

Barcelona. There is merriment in the square in front of Lorenzo's country house. Among the young people is the innkeeper's daughter, the playful Kitri. Basil, the barber, is also here. Lorenzo does not like the poor groom. He dreams of marrying his daughter to the rich Gamache. But the girl cannot bear the thought of this marriage and she and Basil decide to elope. The crowd cheers enthusiastically for their beloved Toreadors. Among them is the handsome daredevil Espada with his beloved Mercedes, a street dancer. Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza appear in the midst of the dancing. Lorenzo invites the guests to the tavern. Don Quixote is struck by the beauty of Kitri, in whom he sees the lovely Dulcinea of his dreams. He invites Kitri to dance a minuet. Meanwhile, the cunning Sancho grabs a large fish "for the road" and tries to hide it. Lorenzo catches it. Kitri and Basil take advantage of the commotion and escape. The enraged Lorenzo and Gamache rush after the fugitives. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza decide to help the lovers.

Second scene 

Gypsy Tabor. Kitri and Basil are hiding here from the pursuers Lorenzo and Gamache. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza soon appear there. The gypsies try to entice Don Quixote with their fiery dances, promising him a free life and eternal joy. But his attention is attracted by the windmills with which the noble Hidalgo fearlessly enters the fray. The duel with the "enemy" brings him to utter exhaustion. Sancho comes to his rescue. 

Third scene 

Don Quixote's dream. Fairy-tale visions appear to him, he is in the magical realm of the dryads, among whom he sees Kitri in the form of the beautiful Dulcinea. But morning comes and the knight's visions disappear...

Second act

Fourth scene 

The pub on the outskirts of Barcelona is loud and cheerful. Here are Espada and Mercedes. Kitri and Basil come in. They are glad that they have finally managed to escape from the pesky pursuers. Enter the enraged Lorenzo, who again states his will emphatically - his daughter Kitri must marry Gamache. Basil enacts a scene of suicide. Kitri begs Don Quixote to persuade her father to fulfil Basil's dying request - to bless their love. When Lorenzo fulfills his daughter's request, Basil suddenly "comes to life."

Fifth scene 

A big celebration is being prepared in the town square. Today two couples will get married - Kitri and Basil, Mercedes and Espada. Youth, love and nobility have won! The people rejoice, and the happy heroes are ready to dance till morning. Don Quixote takes the place of honour among the guests. The noble knight wishes the youth happiness and sets off again.

Aloysius Ludwig Minkus (1826-1917) is an Austrian ballet composer, virtuoso violinist and conductor. In Russia he was initially invited as concertmaster of Prince Yusupov's house orchestra. Later, attracted by the management of the Imperial Theatres in St Petersburg, he remained living and working in Russia for many years.

Minkus is primarily known for his work as a composer of ballet music. During his long career he worked with the famous ballet master Marius Petipa, who choreographed many of his works. Their long artistic collaboration contributed significantly to the development and worldwide recognition of the Russian school of ballet. Among Ludwig Minkus's best-known works are the ballets Le Rouge (1866) (with composer Leo Delibes), Don Quixote (1869), Camargo (1872) and La Bayadère (1877). He is the author of 16 ballets and numerous adaptations of existing ballet works.

Marius Petipa (1818-1910) is a hereditary ballet dancer. Having begun his stage career in France and Spain, he joined the Mariinsky Ballet Company in St Petersburg, where he later worked for many years as balletmaster. His extraordinarily rich repertoire includes over one hundred productions, more than half of which are based on his original choreography. In his work, Petipa shaped the structure of the multi-act ballet performance, composed of dance scenes that necessarily allow the full expression of the ballet dancers' mastery. Petipa's work is a significant part of the art of ballet, which today is defined as an essential part of the wealth of classical ballet. 

Alexander Gorsky (1871-1924) is a Russian ballet dancer, teacher and balletmaster. He was a graduate of Marius Petipa at the St Petersburg Ballet School, worked as a ballet dancer with the Mariinsky Theatre Company, and in the last two decades of his life was a director and choreographer at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Gorsky is the founder of the new ballet genre of The Mimodrama, through the means of expression of which he seeks a full and faithful acting of the ballet dancers in the images of their characters. This specific critical outlook and artistic aim in his interpretation of classical ballet works finds particularly strong expression in the ballet Don Quixote.