Don Quixote

Ludwig Minkus's tuneful 1869 ballet is loosely based on Cervantes's epic novel, although it doesn't focus on the wandering knight and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, but rather on handsome barber Basilio and his beloved Kitri, who runs off with the impecunious haircutter even though her father plans to marry her off to a wealthy fop. Accompanied by Sancho, Don Quixote is a secondary figure here, who intervenes to keep the lovers together. This 2013 production from London's Royal Ballet is the first to be mounted by the company in more than a decade, and it is a truly sumptuous one, featuring colorful costumes and inventive sets. It also boasts the star power of Carlos Acosta, who not only plays Basilio (one of Acosta's signature roles in his native Cuba) but also choreographed this piece after Marius Petipa's original. Even at the age of 40, Acosta is capable of astonishing physical feats, and he remains a charismatic stage presence. He's teamed with the lovely Marianela Nuñez, whose performance emphasizes Kitri's sweetness and charm, while Christopher Saunders and Philip Mosley play Don Quixote and Sancho less farcically than is often the case. The remaining dancers do outstanding work in Minkus's numerous divertissements, while the orchestra of the Royal Opera House delivers the score—adapted and re-orchestrated by conductor Martin Yates—with both dash and delicacy. Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray edition) and LPCM stereo, extras include introductions to Acts II and III, and a cast gallery. Offering a fine modern alternative to the 1973 Nureyev version (VL-7/12), this is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)