L. Mınkus
Choreographer: Murat Kodallı
Producer And Arranger: Ayşem Sunal Savaşkurt
Scenic Design: İsmail Dede
Costume Design: Gizem Betil
Light Design: Önder Arık
In the scope of the Beyoğlu Culture Road Festival, İstanbul State Opera and Ballet will be taking the ballet Don Quixote to the stage. The show, inspired by the selected chapters of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel, will be with you once again at the amazing atmosphere of the AKM - Türk Telekom Opera Hall on October 13th.
The work, composed by Ludwig Minkus, was first staged at the Moscow Bolshoi Royal Theatre in 1869 by Marius Petipa. This is one of the most glamorous and magical works in the world of classical ballet, bringing together its melodic richness with the thrilling and colourful harmony of the Spanish culture.
Ayşem Sunal Savaşkurt is the producer of Don Quixote, which has an invariable place in the repertoires of world-famous ensembles with its high-level ballet technique.
Alonso Quixano, a forgotten name for the one called Don Quixote, who is obsessed with medieval tales of chivalry, one day decides to become a knight-errant and sets off for the city with his squire, Sancho Panza. In his dreams, there is Dulcinea, whose love he wants to win.
The innkeeper Lorenzo wants to marry his daughter Kitri to the wealthy Gamache. However, Kitri loves Basilio. Meanwhile, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza come to town. As soon as Don Quixote sees Kitri, he thinks he has finally found Dulcinea. In the middle of the feast in the square, Kitri and Basilio manage to escape with the help of their friends Espada and Mercedes. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza follow them. Gamache and Lorenzo immediately chase after the two.
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza discover that the escaped couple has taken shelter in a gypsy camp. Everyone is under the influence of the romantic atmosphere of the night. Don Quixote begins to daydream and realizes that Kitri actually loves Basilio. At that moment, a storm breaks out. Don Quixote attacks a windmill, perceiving it as a monster. However, at the end of this collision, he collapses miserably to the ground and passes out.
Don Quixote plunges into a magical dream, and images of extraordinary beauty pass before his eyes. He sees Kitri as Dulcinea again. At the break of dawn, Sancho Panza notices Kitri and Basilio, who escaped from the Gypsy Camp, and immediately wakes up Don Quixote. Arriving at the camp at that time, Lorenzo and Gamache ask them about Kitri. Don Quixote, sympathetic to the young lovers, deliberately misleads Lorenzo and Gamache. However, Sancho Panza benightedly shows the two the right way.
As much as Kitri and Basilio try to hide, they are eventually caught. Lorenzo asks his daughter to reciprocate Gamache’s attention. Meanwhile, Basilio creates a fake “suicide” scene. When Kitri realizes that this is a pretence, she tells Don Quixote that she wants to marry Basilio and asks him to convince Lorenzo about the issue. In an instant, Basilio comes back to “life”! Everyone leaves with enthusiasm for the wedding preparations.
People celebrate the couple’s marriage. Don Quixote is also happy that the couple got married. Saying a sincere farewell to them, he sets off on new adventures.
