Get ready for “an irresistible, sun-kissed romance” (The Telegraph) with Don Quixote. The North American premiere of the acclaimed production by the incomparable Carlos Acosta opens tomorrow and is onstage for nine performances only until June 9.

Overview:

Follow the eccentric Don Quixote and his sidekick Sancho Panza on a quest for love in the North American premiere of Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote, created for The Royal Ballet and remounted for Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2022. Cuban-born Carlos Acosta was one of the great male dancers of his era and Basilio, the young lover from Don Quixote, was a signature role. Don Quixote is a comic romance in the sunny landscape of Spain, set to a musical arrangement of Ludwig Minkus’ score by Hans Vercauteren, featuring original music for guitar.

The Choreographer:

Born in Havana, Carlos Acosta trained at the Cuban National Ballet School and became the youngest Principal Dancer, at age 18, in the history of English National Ballet, where he was colleagues with Artistic Director Hope Muir. He performed with the Cuban National Ballet, Houston Ballet, The Royal Ballet and as an international guest artist, later founding his own company, Acosta Danza, in Cuba. Acosta was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2014 and appointed Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2020.

Casting:

Kitri, Innkeeper’s Daughter

Genevieve Penn Nabity (June 1, 8 at 7:30 pm/ June 6 at 2:00 pm)

Momoko Hirata* (June 2 at 2:00 pm/ June 6 at 7:30 pm)

Jurgita Dronina (June 5, 7 at 7:30 pm)

Tirion Law (June 8 at 2:00 pm)

Koto Ishihara (June 9 at 2:00 pm)

Basilio, A Young Barber

Harrison James (June 1, 8 at 7:30 pm/ June 6 at 2:00 pm)

Siphesihle November (June 2, 9 at 2:00 pm/ June 6 at 7:30 pm)

Mathias Dingman* (June 5, 7 at 7:30 pm)

Naoya Ebe (June 8 at 2:00 pm)

Don Quixote

Rex Harrington† (June 1, 5, 7, 8 at 7:30 pm/ June 6 at 2:00 pm)

Peter Ottmann† (June 2, 9 at 2:00 pm/ June 6 at 7:30 pm)

Trygve Cumpston (June 8 at 2:00 pm)

*Principal Guest Artist

† Guest Artist

For tickets visit national.ballet.ca.

Photo: Chistopher Gerty and artists of the ballet. © 2024 Karolina Kuras.