Don Quixote

"Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be." Coming from a fictional, self-proclaimed knight, one could take this advice with a grain of salt. But we won't. We're all in for Cervante's Don Quixote and his romantic approach on life.

Russian choreographer Marius Petipa's original work, vaguely based on the adventures of Cervante's eccentric dreamer, is considered as one of the most life-affirming and festive ballets of the 19th century. Set to Ludwig Minkus's score, the three-act classical ballet is being staged at the Greek National Opera by a stellar team. Choreographer Thiago Bordin will revive Petipa's original choreography, internationally acclaimed Greek set designer George Souglides will conceive 16th century Spain for the stage and superstar Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou will take over the costumes. Alongside them, animation designer Eirini Vianelli, lighting designer Christos Tziogas and the up-and-coming conductor Stathis Soulis with the GNO Orchestra. If there are any hot tickets in this cold, socially-distanced winter, this is one of them.  Originally scheduled for December 2020, the show has now been moved to May as one of the GNO's bicentennial programme highlights.

In line with the restrictive measures for the protection of public health against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) announced by the Greek Government, the Greek National Opera’s Stavros Niarchos Hall will operate at 30% maximum capacity, namely, with 420 seats out of a total of 1,400. Moreover, it is noted that according to the instructions of the Greek State, tickets will only be purchased online or by telephone, the use of mask will be obligatory when entering and exiting the building and throughout the performances, on either side of each seat (single or double) there will be at least two empty seats left, overcrowding shall be avoided, and the prescribed physical distance between viewers and between the audience and the stage / orchestra shall be maintained, while special protocols are in place for the cleaning, disinfection, air-conditioning and ventilation system of all areas of the GNO at the SNFCC.