Beginning Monday, Seattle Opera kicks off what they’re calling “Quixote’s Quest,” a series of week-long scavenger hunts that lead to free tickets to their upcoming production of Massenet’s “Don Quichotte.”
(Before I go any further,
let me explain the difference between Quixote and Quichotte. According to Seattle Opera’s Tamara Vallejos, most people recognize the famous Cervantes novel according to his spelling, in Spanish, with the “x”. But this production, by Massenet, is in French, hence the French spelling Quichotte. So the advertising is one way, the real title another. I understand if you’re a bit confused. So was I.)
Back to the scavenger hunt. In Massenet’s opera, which is inspired by Cervantes’ novel, the unlikely hero Don Quixote seeks to win the heart of the beautiful Dulcinea by retrieving her stolen necklace. Inspired by the story, each Monday for four weeks — Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28 — Seattle Opera will hide a necklace at a different spot in the Greater Puget Sound area and post clues to its location on the Opera’s blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages. BIG HINT: I wouldn’t be writing about this if Snohomish County wasn’t included in the hunt.
Quixote, or Quichotte, hoped to earn true love by returning Dulcinea’s necklace. Whoever finds the necklaces in the scavenger hunt will be rewarded with the next best thing: a pair of tickets to the Wednesday, March 9, performance — and a chance to win the grand prize, a romantic grand prize package for two, which will include dinner at a Seattle restaurant and other special items.
To participate in this free event, visit Seattle Opera’s blog, Facebook, and Twitter beginning Feb. 7; each week, the first clue will be posted by Monday at 10 a.m. Additional clues will be released throughout the week until the necklace has been found, with hunts for new necklaces in new locations beginning on Feb. 14, 21, and 28.
Fine print: The “Quixote’s Quest” contest is open to those who are at least 18 or older. No purchase necessary. Employees of Seattle Opera as well as immediate family (spouses, domestic partners, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of such employees are not eligible. One winner per household.
About Don Quichotte: Seattle Opera’s upcoming production of Don Quichotte features bass John Relyea as the opera’s title character. Relyea last appeared in Seattle as the fearsome Bluebeard in Bluebeard’s Castle. Don Quichotte runs from Feb. 26 through March 12. Tickets start at $25 at Seattle Opera or 800-426-1619.
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