Libretto: Marius Petipa, Valentin Elizariev

Choreography: Marius Petipa, Alexander Gorsky, Kasyan Goleizovsky, People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev

Staging: People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev

Musical director: Honoured Art Worker of the Republic of Belarus Nikolai Koliadko

Designer (sets, costumes, lighting design concept): People's Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Vyacheslav Okunev

Lighting designer: Nina Ivankina

Conductors: Yuri Karavaev, Vladimir Ovodok

Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes with two intervals

Premiere: 2 June 1989

New version premiere: 24 and 25 March 2023

Prologue

Having read too many tales of chivalry, the romantic Don Quixote dreams of adventurous voyages and the beautiful Dulcinea. The noble hidalgo sets off to glorify his name by feats in honour of the lady-love.

Act I

Merriment reigns in a sunlit square of Barcelona. Kitri, a daughter of the innkeeper Lorenzo, and Basilio, a barber in love with her, are in an excited crowd. Kitri’s father dislikes the young man’s attentions: he dreams of marrying his daughter off to Gamache, a rich nobleman. But the girl doesn’t want to marry Gamache and decides to make off with Basil.

People greet their favourite toreadors rapturously. The brave Espada and his girlfriend Mercedes, a street dancer, are among them. When a swift dance is in its full swing Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza appear. Lorenzo invites the guests to his inn. Don Quixote is struck by Kitri’s beauty. Is it her who has come to his dreams as the beautiful Dulcinea? He invites Kitri for a minuet. Meanwhile the mischievous Sancho Panza steals a big fish to take with them just in case, and now tries to slip out. Lorenzo catches him. In all this commotion, Kitri and Basilio run away. Angered, Lorenzo and Gamache take up the chase. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza decide to help the fugitives.

Act II

A Gypsy encampment. Here Kitri and Basilio hide from their pursuers. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza appear. The Gypsies try to fascinate Don Quixote by fire dances, promising him free life full of merriment. But his attention is attracted by windmills which the noble hidalgo fights against fearlessly. The duel with the so-called enemy exhausts him completely. Sancho Panza hurries to help him.

Don Quixote dreams again. He sees beautiful visions, magic world of dryads; his beloved Dulcinea is among them. But as dawn comes, his dreams vanish… Pursuing Kitri and Basilio, Lorenzo and Gamache appear in the Gypsy encampment. The Gypsies cheat the chasers.

A small tavern in the suburbs of Barcelona is filled with clamour and merriment. Espada and Mercedes are among its guests. Kitri and Basilio run in. They are happy to throw off the annoying chasers, but, alas, Kitri’s enraged father and the persistent suitor are already here. Lorenzo is determined to announce the engagement of his daughter and Gamache immediately. Basilio pretends to commit suicide. Kitri feigns despair. The noble Don Quixote is indignant. He reproaches the innkeeper for being cruel and, threatening him with a gun, makes him give his blessing to the lovers’ betrothal. A happy Basilio rises from the dead at once.

Act III

A grand feast is held in the city square: two couples are married today. Glory to Kitri and Basilio! Glory to Mercedes and Espada! Long live the noble knight Don Quixote! Youth, love and nobleness have won! The exultant people and the happy heroes are eager to dance till dawn. What about the luckless Gamache? He seems to lack complaints: he believes that he is dominant in this story.