New Date for Bolshoi’s Don Quixote

Friday, June 10, 6:30 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver —

You have heard of the magnificence of the Bolshoi Ballet. It is all true! Go and see for yourself in a special night of dance at Orcas Center Friday, June 10, 6:30 pm.

Cervantes’ eccentric hero Don Quixote leaves on a journey full of adventures with his loyal squire Sancho Panza in search of his perfect woman. On the way he meets Kitri, the dazzling daughter of an innkeeper who he thinks might be his ideal love, danced by prima ballerina Ekaterina Krysanova. The Bolshoi’s panache and excellence are combined in Fadeyechev’s critically acclaimed staging of this exalting performance with Leon Minkus’ famous score. Featuring brand new sets and costumes to accompany this colorful and technically challenging production, Don Quixote is quintessential Bolshoi, abounding with life and not to be missed!

The revival of Don Quixote opened on the historical stage of the Bolshoi Theater February 2, 2016. In the press preview of the ballet, Vladimir Gorin, head of the Bolshoi Theater, said he believes that Don Quixote is the most important ballet in Moscow. The production, choreographed by Russian ballet forefather Marius Petipa, premiered on the Bolshoi’s historical stage about 150 years ago. Don Quixote was the only classical Russian ballet that was born at the Bolshoi. It was revived, restaged and updated with new numbers several times. Many experts call Don Quixote “an encyclopedia of Russian ballet.” Excerpts from the ballet have been fixtures of many stars’ repertoires. Stage Director, Alexei Fadeyechev’s version of Don Quixote is based on Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky’s choreography.

This Don Quixote is so rich in detail and full of spectacular dancing and wonderful acting that all other productions pale in comparison. What becomes trite sometimes in other productions of Don Quixote is full-blooded art with the Bolshoi. It is alive in the gorgeous, lush, feminine women and the drenched-in-virility men, the beautiful arms, expansive chests, glorious virtuosity, stupendous character dancing like nowhere else, and delightful panache and pastiche in both dancing and acting. The Bolshoi Orchestra, brilliantly conducted by Pavel Klinichev, plays the Minkus score with excitement and gusto. Another exciting note of the Bolshoi’s production is the use onstage of the castanets and extensive fan work which adds to the Spanish authenticity and flair.

Tickets for the Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema’s Don Quixote are $20, $15 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon – 2 pm. $5 subsidized tickets are available at the Box Office. This show is rescheduled from April and those ticket holders have tickets available in the box office for the June 10 event. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2016 season visit www.orcascenter.org.