Sunday, November 3
Don Quichotte Performed in French with projected English translation
Excerpts from Acts IV & V Music by Jules Massenet
Musical direction by Douglas Dickson Projection design by Joey Moro
cast (in order of vocal appearance) Dulcinée Don Quichotte Sancho Ensemble
evanna chiew, mezzo-soprano david leigh, bass stephen daniel, baritone nicole percifield, leah hawkins, esteban cordero, brian vu
Scene from Act IV, Act V complete Spain:1600’s, Dulcinea’s mansion The many adventures of Don Quixote and his squire, Sancho Panza, have included tilting at windmills, believing they are giants, and a flock of sheep, thinking they are friars. In the Massenet opera, these adventures come about because Quixote has idealized a beautiful (and wealthy) courtesan named Dulcinea. She sends him on a “quest” to recover her stolen pearl necklace. Quixote and Sancha were captured by the bandits who stole the necklace, and who intend to kill them both, but Quixote’s simple faith and fervent prayer melted the captors’ hearts, and they gave him the stolen pearls. The scene opens at a party at Dulcinea’s house, during which Quixote returns her pearls and proposes that Dulcinea marry him. At first, she openly laughs at the idea, but seeing his grave disappointment, she sympathizes with him and tells him she is unworthy of his esteem. He forgives her for her honesty. Sancho defends Quixote from the derision of the guests.Quixote knows that he is dying, and thanks Sancho for his devotion. As the voice of his ideal, Dulcinea, seems to be calling for him, he dies transfigured. intermission