Tuesday 9 November 2010

ABC Wednesday Q for Don Quixote


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A couple of decenniums ago my husband and I went to the musical of "the Man of la Mancha" about the story of Don Quixote, who left his home because he was fed up with his niece who was his housekeeper. He calls his old horse:" Rossinante", an old inn:" a castle". The barmaid is "his lady Dulcinea".

One of my favourite songs is: "To Dream the impossible Dream..."

The story is both touching and in a way also amusing.
Well the whole story is to be found in Wikipedia so please read
more about it yourself. In the meantime enjoy the video of the Dutch National Ballet.


With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with Q.


24 comments:

Vicki Lane said...

A Divine Fool, Quixote! Would that there were more...

Roger Owen Green said...

Funny, but when I was a kid, I thought Impossible Dream was a silly, overwrought song. Now, not so much.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

MaR said...

I love the Impossible Dream! Living in Spain, I should have thought of him...:)
Q is for...

Sylvia K said...

Oh, I love your post for the Q Day, Wil! Love the Impossible Dream, often feel that I have lived it! Hope your week is going well!

Sylvia

photowannabe said...

Its always delightful to come here and be enlightened. Its been a while since I heard the song or thought about the story. Many thanks for the videos to refresh my memory.

anthonynorth said...

That's a great song.

Dina said...

Wil, I dare not listen to the song or I will be singing it for the next month.
I saw and loved the old movie with Peter O'Toole.
My rabbi in Chicago always wondered why people thought Don Quixote was crazy.
Your video is gorgeous!

jabblog said...

Don Quixote, tilting at windmills . . . The ballet clip was outstanding - I could watch ballet all day :-)

Carver said...

What a great choice for Q. I have always been fascinated with Don Quixote and have seen Man of La Mancha on stage too.

Gigi Ann said...

Andy Williams is my all time favorite singer. Loved listening to the song.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Ah the man tilting at windmills. We have so many here, which is apt for someone living on the Isle of Man. Always enjoyable visiting here, always a little different.

Amy said...

I enjoyed both videos very much as well as the information about Don Quixote - a great "q" offering!

batsick said...

I remember hearing this name!! People pronounce it quicks-ote or key-ho-tay. Which is it? Or is it both?

Kay L. Davies said...

Oh, Wil, I almost did Don Quixote, too.
I like Roger's comment. "The Impossible Dream" is much easier to understand now that we're not so young any more. LOL
Excellent post, Wil, very enjoyable.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

EG CameraGirl said...

Great post, Wil. Now for sure I will be humming the Impossible Dream for the rest of the day. :)

Tumblewords: said...

Delightful - this has always been one of my faves!

Hildred said...

magnificent - I watched it twice and could go back again. I knew the story of Don quixote but had never read the book so last year I got it from the library and read it to the end. I have been known to tilt at windmills myself!

Gayle said...

I think of Robert Goulet when I think of Impossible Dream - a classic song.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

I had learned one of the variations from Don Q in one of my ballet classes ages ago. If you've seen the ballet, it's where she comes out and does a solo with a fan.
he Dutch Ballet seems to have a joyful interpretation of it, judging by the trailer.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I read this as a comic book and never got to know the meaning.

Etje said...

Vechten tegen de windmolens, wie kent dit verhaal niet he.

Groetjes

??? said...

Great choice. It's a lovely tale and I adore the Dore engravings you chose.
By the way, you asked about Burgers Zoo: it's indeed in the Nethrlands, in Arnhem. If you ever find yourself in the vicinity, I can only recommend a visit, it's the most awesome zoo I know.

??? said...

When I visited Burgers Zoo for the first time, the safari park had already been closed/converted to how ot is today. I've been only four times, the last time my boyfriend and me took a whole weekend just for the zoo - like you said, it's always great to see what has changed and what new ideas they have come up with.
If you're interested, I have some posts about my last visit there here :)

Nanka said...

We did have Excerpts of "the Man of la Mancha" in school!! Didn't like it when it had to be done for examinations :D LOL!!