Not only does it faithfully recreate the spirit of the original work, the play also bears a strong Vietnamese artistic imprint, marking a new step forward for the country's academic arts.
Dreams follow the rhythm, the spin
First premiered in 1869 in Russia, the three-act ballet “Don Quixote” based on the immortal novel by writer and playwright Miguel de Cervantes has become an icon of European classical dance, regularly appearing in the top 10 greatest ballets of all time. With its masterful dancing techniques, vibrant Spanish rhythms and poetic optimism, the work is a passionate celebration of love, ideals and the desire to live a life of devotion.
In Vietnam, although some excerpts have been introduced, a complete, original version has never been produced. Therefore, VNOB's successful staging and performance of the play at the Ho Guom Theater ( Hanoi ) at the end of June is considered a bold move.
Meritorious Artist Phan Manh Duc, Director of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet, shared that despite many challenges, especially in terms of human resources, the theater is determined to bring "Don Quixote" to the Vietnamese stage with the desire to realize the dream of allowing domestic audiences to enjoy the world 's top artistic works.
The performance was staged by Meritorious Artist Luu Thu Lan and artist Pham Minh - currently the Director of La Salle Dance School (France); it gathered 150 people, including nearly 60 ballet dancers - the largest number ever for a ballet of the theater. Notably, participating in the performance were generations of Vietnamese ballet artists such as Meritorious Artist Cao Chi Thanh, Meritorious Artist Phan Luong, Meritorious Artist Pham Thu Hang, Vu Vu Anh, Bui Tuan Anh, Phung Quang Minh and Gen Z generation such as Nguyen Duc Hieu, Vu Khanh Bang, Tran Bao Ngoc...
On the stage of the splendid Ho Guom Theater, the familiar Don Quixote of La Mancha, who lives in a dream, always fighting for love and ideals, appeared before the audience in a vivid and attractive way through the language of ballet. He is the bridge between the two worlds of "real" and "dream", leading the audience into the passionate and exciting love story of Kitri and Basilio throughout the play. Each skillful fouetté turn, each powerful grand jeté jump, or each graceful and sublime swing of the dancers made the audience hold their breath, their hearts pound, and then burst into applause. It seemed that the audience was not just watching a ballet performance, but living in a magical classical painting, where the lights, the stage, the symphonic music and the movements of the actors blended together.
Crystallization of classic techniques and Vietnamese spirits
To stage a masterpiece of such scale, cultural depth and academic technique as “Don Quixote” is a challenge for any art unit. The Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theater spent more than a year preparing and the artists shed sweat and tears on the rehearsal floor for nearly 4 months.
Meritorious Artist Luu Thu Lan shared that “Don Quixote” is a play with clear content, with characters with distinctive personalities. This not only requires the actors to be good at ballet techniques but also to act and recreate the story coherently and emotionally. How to express the vibrant Spanish quality, the spirit of folk humor and the classical beauty of academic ballet techniques while still bringing a close Vietnamese touch is always a concern of the stagers. Faithful to the original spirit and structure, the choreography team also made subtle adjustments to suit the physical condition, performance psychology and reception culture of the domestic audience.
Returning to the ballet stage with the role of Don Quixote, who is both dreamy, reckless and full of experience, Meritorious Artist Cao Chi Thanh expressed that this is a character that he is passionate about and loves since the novel. The role helps him see the aspirations of youth and the ideal of a beautiful life.
Young artist Vu Khanh Bang (playing Kitri) shared: "Kitri is not only charming and witty, but also has inner depth. I want to portray a character full of emotions, with a personal touch, so that the audience can not only see her physical beauty but also feel the Spanish spirit and vitality of youth."
The success of the play also had the mark of conductor Dong Quang Vinh and the symphony orchestra playing live on stage. "Ballet is the biggest challenge for a conductor. Throughout the play, the conductor both leads the orchestra and "listens with his eyes" to catch every beat, turn, and breath of the dancers, supporting them to fully express their emotions" - conductor Dong Quang Vinh shared.
After “Swan Lake” and “Giselle”, another world-class ballet – “Don Quixote” – was successfully staged in Vietnam, continuing to affirm the mettle and inner strength of the country's artists. The performance is not only a memorable milestone for academic art, but also a testament to the spirit and aspiration of Vietnamese theater to reach the world level.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/khat-vong-vuon-tam-cua-ballet-viet-708264.html
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