Opéra National de Paris is set to present a new production of Massenet’s “Don Quichotte.”

Patrick Fournillier will conduct the new production by Damiano Michieletto.

The cast will include Christian Van Horn and Gábor Bretz in the title role, Gaëlle Arquez as La Belle Dulcinée, Étienne Dupuis as Sancho Pança, Emy Gazeilles and Marine Chagnon playing the roles of Pedro and Garcias.

Maciej Kwaśnikowski (Rodriguez), Nicholas Jones (Juan), Youngwoo Kim and Hyunsik Zee (Deux serviteurs) round out the cast.

In a statement, Michieletto said, “Who is Don Quichotte? To face the protagonist of a great literature classic and answer this question is the true challenge the opera poses, considering the multiple interpretations that have already been offered. He is a knight who feels invested by a near-salvific mission; he is called to save the world by fighting injustices. At the same time he experiences an idealized love story with Dulcinée, sublimated through his role as a knight. Such love hasn’t been consummated, it’s not sexual and it’s not even completely real. I would define it as a dreamed love, also considering the importance dreams and imagination have in this man’s history. In a continuous oscillation between the real and the fantastic, Don Quichotte is often made a laughingstock by common people, who label his as crazy. He ends up abandoned by all and dies alone next to his servant Sancho Pança, the only person who’s always been faithful to him and who has probably loved him sincerely throughout his life.”

The opera will be performed from May 10 through June 11, 2024. The opera will be show in cinemas on May 23, 2024 and distributed by FRA Cinéma to other independent movie theatres in France and around the world.