Major revival of the ballet took place on 2 February 2016.

The legendary don Quixote returns to Historical the Bolshoi theatre. Created in 1869 by Marius Petipa specially for the Moscow troupe, famous character dances and pantomime life, in 1900 "Don Quixote" has found a second wind in the hands of enthusiastic innovator Alexander Gorsky, whose production became classic. It shone many generations of artists Great, and don Quixote is considered the main the Moscow ballet, carefully preserved monument. Since 1900 making of "Don Quixote" is much more than just the scenery and costumes, it is an artistic Manifesto era. Home Historical stage "Don Quixote" will be back with a new look, designed by Valery Levental.

Levental’s Paradoxes

Re-introduction of Don Quixote to the Bolshoi Theater was the last project implemented by a renowned stage designer Valery Levental (1938—2015). The name of Levental is almost synonymous to the word «theater». All his works are so wonderfully theatrical, it’s hard to believe that artist studied at a cinematography institute instead of studying theater.

Levental debuted in Ermolova Moscow Theater and Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theater in drama and opera the same year, and soon he began his collaboration with the Bolshoi Theater. His first work in Boshoi is dated 1965. In 1988, Levental became the theater’s art director, while still working in drama theater.

Mr. Levental was a long-term friend of actor Oleg Efremov. Their friendship produced several well-known Moscow Art Theatre performances of Chekhov: Uncle Vanya, The Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, The Seagull. Another staging of The Seagull, but in the ballet form, was created in collaboration with Maya Plisetskaya and Rodion Shedrin.

Mr. Levental’s art was often full of paradox. He would achieve realism in opera and ballet and sometimes astonish the audience with opera-like pomp in drama. His sketches stored at the Bolshoi Museum are a precious reminder of a wonderful era.