OXYMORE

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.

At the Opéra National de Bordeaux, the curtain rises on a dazzling new production of Le Corsaire by the marvelous José Carlos Martínez, brought to life by the opera’s ballet company and the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine. The ballet follows the epic tale of daring pirate Conrad, who falls in love with the beautiful Medora and sets out to rescue her from captivity. Brimming with romance, adventure, and fantasy, the performance features Martínez's dynamic choreography inspired by Marius Petipa’s classic work. Drawing on Lord Byron’s eponymous poem, the libretto by Jules-Henry Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier is beautifully matched by the expressive and stirring musical score of Adam, Delibes, Drigo, and Pugni.