Ballet Don Quixote

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Opera House

Dates: Nov. 19, 2013-Nov. 20, 2013

Price: VIP/400/350/300/240/120/100/80 RMB

About

Choreography and Stage Direction by Rudolf Nureyev based upon Marius Petipa's ballet

Libretto by Marius Petipa based on the novel of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Music by Leon (Ludwig) Minkus

Orchestrated by John Lanchbery

Producer: Feng Ying

Artistic Advisor: Manuel Legris (Guest)

General Repetiteur: Zhang Weiqiang (Guest)

Stage Design: Gong Xun

Lighting Design: Deng Wen, Liu Zhao

Costume Design: Wang Yunqi (after the design of Paris Opera Ballet)

Makeup & Style Design: Xu Bin

Repetiteurs: Xu Gang, Yu Guohua, Chen Li'e, Wang Hao, Li Ning

World Premiere: Dec. 14, 1869, the Russian Imperial Ballet

Nureyev's Version Premiere: Dec. 1, 1966, Wiener Staatsoper

Nureyev's Version first performed in China: Nov. 28, 1985, National Ballet of China

Re-staged by NBC: Sept. 11-15, 2013, National Ballet of China

Presented by National Ballet of China, National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra

Artistic Director: Feng Ying

Conductors: Zhang Yi, Liu Ju

Presenter

National Ballet of China

Founded on 31 December 1959, the National Ballet of China is China's only national ballet company. Its dancers and musicians are all graduates from professional dance academies and music conservatories across China. Since the day it was founded, the company has received continuous support from the Chinese government. In its early days, Russian ballet master Pyotr Gusev and other Russian teachers helped lay a solid foundation for the company using their experience in the Russian School of classical ballet. For the past 52 years, the National Ballet of China has introduced many outstanding classical ballets and contemporary ballet works to the Chinese audience. At the same time, it has attached great importance to creating a unique fusion between western classical ballet and Chinese culture. They have achieved this by creating their own ballets, which represents the varied characteristics of the Chinese nation. Today, the company has a broad repertoire and has successfully trained many generations of outstanding artists. Through international cultural exchange, the National Ballet of China has attracted the attention of the international ballet world. Currently, Feng Ying, ballet mistress is the Director and Artistic Director.

National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra

The National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1959 under the National Ballet of China, is the only professional ballet orchestra in China. Zhang Yi is the music director and chief conductor and Liu Ju is the resident conductor. Orchestra members are mainly graduated from renowned conservatories of music in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and other places at the average age of 35 years. They have been subject to rigorous professional training with excellent music quality. It is a national symphony orchestra with most vitality and development potential in the Chinese music industry.

Jean Perrison(from France), the internationally renowned conductor has visited the orchestra and offered guidance during his stay in China; the chief conductor of Peru's National Symphony Orchestra Ashley Lawrence, chief conductor of Royal Danish Ballet and American Peter Larsen and the American Music Education Delegation soloist(singer) held concert with the orchestra separately. In addition, well-known Chinese conductors like Li Guoquan, Bian Zushan, Hu Bingxu, Chen Zuohuang, Tan Lihua, Hu Yongyan, Li Xincao are extensively acclaimed by music community at home and abroad for their ballet and symphonic music concerts.

In recent years, the orchestra is regularly invited to audio and video recording by Central station, China Central Television, China's record companies, publishers and film studios. In addition to tour performance across China including Hong Kong and Macao, it also went overseas to spread Chinese culture. It is popular at home and abroad. The orchestra has performed not only Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Raise the Red Lantern, Pirates, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Leiquan, Ji Purcell, and other fine ballet repertoire, but also has classical and romantic tracks authored by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Sibelius and other artists as well as numerous works created by Chinese and foreign contemporary composers. The orchestra also recorded a number of high-quality records.

Synopsis

Don Quixote, having read his fill of romances about knights and chivalry, decides to set off on his travels in order to achieve great feats, which will bring glory to his name. As his sword-bearer, he chooses the loyal Sancho Panza, a man of sober outlook who is not prone to dreams.