Don Quixote Returns to La Scala With Dance, Passion, and Spectacle

Between windmills, gypsies, matadors, and dazzling virtuosity, Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote returns to captivate the stage of Teatro alla Scala following the recent success of its performances in Beijing. One of the most beloved productions in La Scala’s repertoire, the ballet brings back all the energy and theatrical brilliance of Nureyev’s celebrated version, first introduced to the theatre in 1980 with Nureyev himself performing alongside Carla Fracci. Set to Ludwig Minkus’s vibrant score, the production transports audiences into a luminous and theatrical Spain filled with fandango rhythms, gypsy dances, romantic escapes, and irresistible comedy. The adventures of the wandering knight Don Quixote and his loyal squire Sancho Panza become the thread connecting a lively love story between the spirited Kitri and the barber Basilio, unfolding through disguises, deceptions, and breathtaking pas de deux. With warm-toned sets and costumes designed by Raffaele Del Savio and Anna Anni, the ballet alternates irony, poetry, and spectacular technique, confirming its place as one of the most joyful and engaging productions in the great classical repertoire.