Don Quixote by José Carlos Martínez after Petipa and Gorsky, music by Minkus

Since its creation at the Bolshoi in 1865, Don Quixote has found an unshakeable place in the ballet repertoire all over the world, one of the most beloved choreographies by the great Marius Petipa. Following Marius Petipa, Alexander Gorsky, and Rudolf Nureyev, José Carlos Martínez—a former étoile dancer at the Paris Opera Ballet who spent a decade leading the Spanish National Dance Company before being named Dance Director at the Paris Opera in 2022—adds his own touch to this masterpiece based on the Cervantes classic. The ballet's intrigue follows the love story between Kitri, an innkeeper's daughter, and barber Basilio, who cross paths with our legendary wandering knight. The exceptional dancers—including Marc-Emmanuel Zanoli as Don Quixote, Diane Le Floc'h as Kitri, and Riku Ota as Basilio—perform with the utmost grace in folklore-inspired costumes by Carmen Granell, adding a flamboyant touch to the virtuosity of their roles.

Photo © Julien Benhamou