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The Ballet of the Greek National Opera opens the 2024/25 season with the revival of a majestic production of the classical ballet Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus, featuring choreography by Thiago Bordin -inspired by that of Marius Petipa-, along with sets designed by George Souglides, and costumes created by Mary Katrantzou. Starting on the 5th of December 2024, for nine performances in the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the GNO at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, conducted by Stathis Soulis and with a world-class ballet cast in the leading roles.
Don Quixote, one of the most important and popular works in the classical ballet repertoire, is based on episodes drawn from the renowned novel of the same title written by Miguel de Cervantes. It is also one of the most demanding ballets in the repertoire and is considered a major challenge for classical ballet dancers due to its high level of technical difficulty - the manner in which it is performed reveals the standing of a ballet company as a whole.
Guided by the singular music of Minkus, the choreography tells a story imbued with the lofty ideals of knighthood and chivalry, and never fails to touch audiences thanks to its skillful mix of comedy and romance. Austrian composer Ludwig Minkus composed music for a number of ballets, some of which were choreographed by Marius Petipa. At a young age, Petipa travelled to Spain, where he was particularly taken by the country's traditional dances. With Don Quixote, Petipa seeks to capture the impressions and colours of Spain, beautifully expressing its dance traditions through his choreography. The results of this Minkus - Petipa partnership immediately met with massive success, leading to Don Quixote being firmly established as a timeless masterpiece of the world ballet repertoire.
The production of Don Quixote, which was first presented in the Stavros Niarchos Hall in November 2022 and scored tremendous success, carries the signatures of choreographer Thiago Bordin, who revived Petipa's classical choreography, set designer George Souglides, fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, lighting designer Christos Tziogkas and animator Eirini Vianelli. Stathis Soulis will conduct the GNO Orchestra.
After a successful career as a Principal Dancer with the Hamburg Ballet, where the renowned John Neumeier created roles specifically for him, and with Nederlands Dans Theater, dancer and choreographer Thiago Bordin has established himself as an important choreographer of the younger generation and has been known for his great affinity for classical ballet. George Souglides, in addition to his work with the GNO, has designed sets for productions at prestigious festivals, including those of Salzburg, Bregenz, and Epidaurus, and has also collaborated with major opera houses in Chicago, Rome, Lisbon, and Valencia, the Royal Opera House, and the Scottish Ballet. Internationally renowned Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou has designed costumes for the New York City Ballet and the Opéra national de Paris, and her creations have been exhibited at such major institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and Dallas Contemporary.
Along with the excellent Principal Dancers, Soloists, Demi-Soloists, and the Corps de ballet of the GNO, the production features world-class ballet stars from leading companies such as the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, the Dutch National Ballet, the Berlin State Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.
In the first three performances (5, 7, 8/12) the roles of Kitri and Basilio will be performed by two outstanding dancers, Madison Young and Victor Caixeta. After winning second place at the Beau Rivage Palace during the prestigious competition Prix de Lausanne in 2016, Madison Young, born in Utah, USA, began studying ballet in Houston and joined the company in 2017. The following year, she joined the Vienna State Ballet's Corps de ballet, where she was quickly promoted to Soloist and, in 2019, to First Soloist. A year later, she joined the Bavarian State Ballet company in Munich as a First Soloist, and in December 2021 she was promoted to Principal Dancer. Performing alongside Young as Basilio will be the Brazilian Victor Caixeta, one of the most talented dancers of his generation. His dance career resembles a fairy tale. Caixeta was first involved in dancing at the age of twelve, when he was randomly selected to participate in a social programme at a local dance school in his birthplace, Uberlandia. His brilliant career started in 2017 with the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg, where he was promoted to Soloist in 2019. Choosing to stay true to his principles, however, and unafraid of the challenges lying ahead, in March 2022, he left Saint Petersburg due to the ongoing situation between Russia and Ukraine. He continued his career with the Dutch National Ballet, covering an exceptionally wide repertoire. He has held the title of Principal Dancer since 2023 and at the age of just 24 he has already performed all the classical roles.
In the next three performances (15, 20, 22/12), Kitri and Basilio will be portrayed by another pair of much sought-after ballet dancers, Ksenia Ovsyanick and Osiel Gouneo. Internationally acclaimed British-Belorussian dancer Ksenia Ovsyanick began her career with the English National Ballet, where, at the age of twenty, she made her debut as Giselle and was a candidate for the English National Ballet's Emerging Dancer Award. Since 2016, she has danced with the Berlin State Ballet as a Principal Dancer. Up to the present day, the multi-awarded dancer has performed roles from the classical and modern repertoire at the world's most prestigious theatres. Born in Cuba, the talented Osiel Gouneo began his career with the Cuban National Ballet and continued with the Norwegian National Ballet. In 2016, he started dancing as a Principal Dancer with the Bavarian State Ballet, performing in the most emblematic theatres worldwide, including the Bolshoi Theatre, Opéra national de Paris, and Lincoln Center. He has received numerous awards and co-authored the book Black Romeo with writer Thilo Komma-Pöllath.
The leading roles in the last three performances (24, 26, 28/12) will be performed by two more invited dancers, Rachele Buriassi and Esnel Ramos. Born in Sarzana, Italy, Rachele Buriassi, joined the famous Stuttgart Ballet company in 2006 and the Boston Ballet in 2015. Since 2019, she has held the position of Principal Dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. The award-winning dancer teaches and is invited to perform at shows all around the world. She has an extensive repertoire and performs leading roles in famous choreographers' productions, as well as roles from the classical repertoire. Portraying Basilio alongside her will be one more dancer from the Grands Ballets Canadiens, Esnel Ramos. The Cuban dancer has performed as a First Soloist since the beginning of his career, showcasing a broad spectrum of the classical repertoire. In Canada, he performs in shows by renowned choreographers, and his repertoire also includes modern dance pieces. He has held the title of Principal Dancer since 2023 and has been invited to perform with some of the most prestigious dance companies worldwide.
The role of Mercedes will be taken on by the Principal Dancer from the GNO, Eleana Andreoudi, the Soloist from the GNO, Christina Makridou, and the dancer from the Corps de ballet, Marta Rivero de Miranda.
Espada will be portrayed by the Principal Dancers from the GNO, Danilo Zeka and Vangelis Bikos, as well as Yannis Mitrakis from the Corps de ballet.
Synopsis of Don Quixote, prepared by Thiago Bordin
PROLOGUE
An idea of a hospital. Don Quixote, a country gentleman, believes himself to be a valiant knight, straight out of the chivalric romances that are his favourite books to read. He picks his neighbour, Sancho Panza, to be his squire, and together they set off into a world of adventure. As Don Quixote dreams, Dulcinea -the heroine of these stories and his vision of the ideal woman- appears to him.
ACT I
A public square in Barcelona. Kitri, the daughter of Lorenzo the innkeeper, searches amid the crowds for her beloved, Basilio the barber. Her joyous dancing is interrupted by her father who -wanting her to marry the rich, noble, and silly Gamache- rebuffs Basilio. Kitri turns down the marriage proposed by her father, but the arrival of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza puts an end to their argument. Lorenzo offers them hospitality, inviting them to stay at his inn, but when Don Quixote sees Kitri, he believes her to be his beloved Dulcinea. Like a gentleman, he offers her his arm for a minuet. Gamache grows furious with this situation. Taking advantage of the confusion, Kitri and Basilio decide to flee.
ACT II
Scene 1: The Gypsy camp. Basilio and Kitri take refuge in the mountains, by the windmills. They are discovered by a group of Gypsies who warmly welcome them and invite them to join in their celebrations. The Gypsies decide to help the lovers when they witness the arrival of Lorenzo and Gamache, followed by Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, who eventually discover their hiding place. In the midst of a heavy storm and the panic it brings, Don Quixote suddenly finds himself faced with a windmill; he attacks, believing it to be some enormous enemy leading an army, but is hurled to the ground where he falls into a deep sleep. Basilio and Kitri manage to get away once again.
Scene 2: Don Quixote's dream. Don Quixote, wounded and quite faint, dreams he has been transported into an enchanted garden filled with nymphs and a cupid (Amour) as a reward for his courage and loyalty. The Queen of the Dryads takes him to Kitri, whom he believes to be Dulcinea, but the dream then fades away, bringing him back to reality.
Scene 3: A tavern. Basilio and Kitri -happy to have escaped once more- celebrate their triumph with friends at a tavern. However, Lorenzo, Gamache, Don Quixote, and Sancho Panza waste no time finding them again. Lorenzo is absolutely determined: Kitri must marry Gamache. In desperation, Basilio resorts to subterfuge and pretends to commit suicide. Kitri begs Don Quixote to persuade Lorenzo let her marry Basilio - it was the young man's final wish before his death. Don Quixote obliges Lorenzo to allow Kitri to marry Basilio. The moment her father gives his blessing, Basilio jumps gaily to his feet. Infuriated beyond all endurance by this trick they have played, Gamache challenges Don Quixote to a duel and is defeated.
Scene 4: The wedding. There is much merriment as the village celebrates the marriage of Kitri with her Basilio. Don Quixote is guest of honour, and the happy lovers dance for him. Don Quixote and his faithful servant then leave in search of new adventures.
Fully accessible performances of the ballet Don Quixote
TheperformancesofDon Quixote will be fully accessible on the 20th and 24th of December2024, providing an inclusive audiovisual experience for all audiences in collaboration with ATLAS E.P. In this context, there will be designated seats for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and use Greek Sign Language, places for those who rely on captions (CAPS) covering the entire audio channel, as well as seats for individuals who are blind or have limited access to the visual channel of communication and use the audio description (AD) service. Guide dogs for the visually impaired will also be permitted.
The full accessibility services for this production are funded by the Ministry of Culture, as part of the projectSUB.1.1.6 Attracting 65+ individuals and persons with disabilities to events of the Greek National Opera. This project is implemented as part of the Greece 2.0 - National Recovery and Resilience Plan with funds from the European Union-NextGeneration EU.
Audience members who wish to use the accessibility services are requested to purchase their tickets at the GNO Box Office, over the phone at 2130885700, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you need assistance with your reservation, you can also contact ATLAS E.P. at 6993507553 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
