At the heart of the ballet lies the tragic destiny of Carmen the gypsy girl and José the soldier who falls in love with her, though Carmen abandons him in favour of the young Torero. The relationships between the protagonists and Carmen’s death at José’s hands is predestined by Fate. Thus the story of Carmen (in comparison with the literary source and Bizet’s opera) is presented symbolically, which is reinforced by the unity of the setting of the plot (an arena which hosts a bullfight). Violetta Mainietse
World premiere: 20 April 1967, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow Premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre: 19 April 2010
Running time: 45 minutes
Age category 12+
“Don Quixote” Grand pas
CREDITS
Music by Ludwig Minkus Libretto by Marius Petipa based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes Choreography by Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa
Set design: Alexander Golovin and Konstantin Korovin Restoration of sets: Mikhail Shishliannikov Costume design: Konstantin Korovin
World premiere: 14 December 1869, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow (choreography by Marius Petipa) Premiere of Alexander Gorsky´s version: 6 December 1900, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow Premiere of Alexander Gorsky´s version in St Petersburg: 20 January 1902, Mariinsky Theatre
Mariinsky Theatre: 
Mariinsky-2 (New Theatre): 
Mariinsky Concert Hall: 