Don Quijote ballet, by the Spanish National Dance Company © Compañía Nacional de Danza
Front cover of Lanz for the music score ‘El retablo de Maese Pedro’ by Falla Exhibition ‘El retablo de Maese Pedro. Una de títeres en la BNE’ © Biblioteca Nacional de España
Authors and creators in different eras and artistic disciplines have been inspired by Don Quixote and Cervantes’ other writings to create their own works. They range from operas, operettas and ballets to stage plays and literary essays. Here are a few examples.
Don Quixote, opera and ballet
Cervantes’ legendary novel and its most famous scenes have inspired distinguished composers and choreographers. For example, 'Don Quijote' was the first opera composed by Cristóbal Halffter, recreating the Quixotic archetype. 'Don Quijote' was also the title of the monumental production created in 1982 by Luis Dávila, 'Luisillo', for the Spanish National Ballet directed by Antonio 'el Bailarín', which combined flamenco and classical dance. And 'Don Quixote' is the name of the classic ballet by Marius Petipa, first performed in 1869, which was revived by Víctor Ullate’s company in 1997.
D. Q. (Don Quijote en Barcelona)
The company La Fura dels Baus and the composer José Luis Turina joined forces to create this futuristic opera, set in the year 3000, based on passages from Don Quixote. It was first performed in the Gran Teatro del Liceu in the year 2000. See more information.
El retablo de Maese Pedro, by Falla
Manuel de Falla adapted an episode of Don Quixote to music to create this masterpiece. An opera for puppets and real singers, it was first performed in 1923 in Seville, as a concert version, and later staged in Paris, where it was a great success. See more information.
La Gitanilla, by José Granero
José Granero created this choreography in 1996 for the Spanish National Ballet, based on 'La Gitanilla', one of the stories in Cervantes’ 'Novelas Ejemplares'. The music was by Antón García Abril and the theatrical direction by Miguel Narros. See more information.
El Curioso Impertinente, by Guillén de Castro
This tragicomedy, published by Guillén de Castro in 1618 was inspired by the novel of the same title by Miguel de Cervantes and included in the first part of Don Quixote. It was staged in 2007 by the National Classic Theatre Company. See more information.
Vida de Don Quijote y Sancho, by Miguel de Unamuno
This original essay by the writer and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno defends and celebrates Don Quixote’s desire for chivalric deeds. In these pages, while Don Quixote and Sancho Panza repeat their adventures, the author interferes in the narration, while also providing literary criticism. See more information.
El Huésped del Sevillano, by Jacinto Guerrero
This zarzuela by Jacinto Guerrero is set in the context of the story 'La ilustre fregona', from Cervantes’ 'Novelas ejemplares'. With a libretto by Enrique Reoyo and Luca de Tena, it has an ingenious plot, and is an homage to the city of Toledo and Spain’s Golden Age. See more information.
Find out more about the world of Cervantes and the interesting places connected to his life and work on the special Cervantes page of Spain is Culture.
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