Customer Reviews

Don Quixote

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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"Don Quixote" is a classic staple of the ballet repertoire, and its individual set pieces are very well known and often used in galas and ballet competitions. Despite the title, the ballet has only a passing resemblance to Cervantes' great novel. It focuses on one vignette from the novel, which is the attempts of the lovers Basil and Kitri to marry in the face of parental opposition. At its best it's a high-spirited, exhilarating ballet sure to put a smile on your face. At its worst, it can seem silly and shallow. Minkus's score is tuneful and a favorite of ice skaters.

The leads in this new video, which was filmed in 2006, are stars of the Mariinsky Ballet. Olesia Novikova is the Kitri. She's pretty, doll-faced, and a good turner (in the grand pas de deux coda she throws several doubles in addition to the 32 single fouettes). However, she doesn't quite have the sauciness and personality that can really light the stage on fire. To see how exciting this role *can* be, watch excerpts of Maya Plisetskaya, or, on youtube, the recent Bolshoi phenom Natalia Osipova. Novikova's fan coda is the most disappointing -- indifferently danced. She chooses to do the "bouree" variation rather than the "grande jete" variation, but her bourree's do not sparkle and are not well-articulated, and she doesn't do much with her fan either. She also doesn't have the elevation (Kitri is a big jumping role) to make the most of her solos. She is perhaps the best in the Dream Sequence, where her sweet stage presence is the most obvious.

Leonid Sarafanov, blond and boyish looking, is the closest the Kirov has today to a male superstar. His elevation is incredible, and he certainly knows every trick in the Ballet Bravura book. His weakness is that he can be an indifferent partner and is too slight of build to make much of the many lifts the role requires. The famous one-handed lifts in Act 1 go for nothing. Still, he's an undeniably exciting performer.

The strength of a company can often be judged not just by the lead performers, but the quality of the small solo variations in a ballet. In this case, the Mariinsky shows its depth. Andrei Merkuriev (no longer with the company) is a handsome, dashing Espada. The Street Dancer is danced with glamour, style, and verve by the red-haired, tall Ekaterina Kondaorova. On the other side of the coin the tiny, adorable Evgenia Obraztsova is Amour. The one disappointment is Alina Somova's Dryad Queen. Somova has enormous flexibility (makes Sylvie Guillem look positively rusty) but little else. Her turnout is weak and her solo in the Dream Sequence is distinguished only by her determination to touch her arm to her toes in each Italian fouette.

The corps de ballet of the Mariinsky is always the real star. In the Dream Sequence, children of the Vaganova school dance along with the Mariinsky corps de ballet and the similarity in training and the unison between the children and the corps is a delight to watch. It makes me understand why Balanchine, one of the Vaganova Academy's most famous alumni, when he started a ballet company in the United States said, "But first, a school."

I do wish the Bolshoi would release a Don Quixote with Natalia Osipova. In the meantime, this video is a welcome addition to a balletomane's library.

Cervantes' Don Quixote is a classic of world literature. The story of the gentleman who raves about a nonexistent reality has its strength in the comic, the acidity of satire and criticism of society. All the great arts tried to portray Don Quixote. We have pictures, poems, symphonies, operas and ballet.

The complexity of history combined with a unique form of narrative makes all attempts to turn it into another art to be frustrating. Anyone who has read Don Quixote from one end to know what I'm talking about. The ballet, which is in the repertoire of major theaters in the world for more than a century, is an example: it has everything but the story of Don Quixote. The libretto by Marius Petipa was reduced to a simple love story of two young, forbidden by her father. Don Quixote becomes a mere adjunct to more harm than good. Mindless wanderings and fourth act that adds nothing to annihilate every story.

The beautiful dance numbers make Don Quixote belongs to the repertoire of every good theater. Marius Petipa choreographed knew, irreverence and abused exotic and used a theme popular at the time, warm Spain. Many of his pieces have gained popularity and are presented in gala evenings and competitions around the world. The quantity and beauty of the choreography are almost all the corps de ballet to perform. Everyone is happy and the audience rose to its feet. The ballet in question has absolutely nothing to do with the great work of Cervantes. It has great dance numbers, pleasing to the audience, which often leaves the theater mesmerized. The story is more naive than the sixth novel.

Music by Leon Minkus is a alarming poverty. Simple and direct, not remember the sunny Spain of Don Quixote. Fit with the choreography of Petipa, but not excited. It has a great theme, a great melody.
The production of the Mariinsky ballet is exquisite. Important details such as costumes and colors of light combine and lead us to the fantastic. The soloists are presented with good performances. The ballerina Kitri Olesia Novikova is naive and exudes a beauty in the freshness of youth. Follow all the major steps of ballet, these maximum degree of difficulty. His fouettes are firm and often double. One of the great features of this character are the jumps. Those of Novikova are not as high as they should, their soils are gorgeous, the technique follows the Russian tradition, found. His best moment was the grand pas de deux in Act Four. A good dancer, but nothing to be missed.

Leonid Safaranov a dancer is more handsome. Shorty like Catatau (Yogi Bear's little friend), the impressive technical and large jumps. It lends great dignity to the character Basil.

The corps de ballet of the Mariinsky is flawless in different soils and numbers that occur in the course of four acts. The orchestra carries himself with precision, they must know the score by heart. The sets and costumes are flawless in beauty and finish, show the standard Marrinsky ballet. There are people who said that the theater is in decline. We have not seen it in presentations. Children are a sideshow, not intimidated by the stage and play their part bravely.

A great record, an excellent ballet produced by Marrinsky. Images and direction of good quality cameras. Suitable for those who like to see good technique with a high degree of difficulty. Staggering numbers, which infect the viewer, despite the weakness of the libretto.


Portuguese, original language:

Don Quixote de Cervantes é um clássico da literatura mundial. A história do cavalheiro que delira uma realidade inexistente tem sua força no cômico, na acidez das sátiras e na crítica à sociedade. Todas as grandes artes tentaram retratar Don Quixote. Temos quadros, poemas sinfônicas, óperas e balé.

A complexidade da história aliada a uma forma única de narrativa faz com que todas as tentativas de transformar o livro em outra arte sejam frustrantes. Quem leu Don Quixote de cabo a rabo sabe o que estou falando. O balé, que está no repertório dos grandes teatros do mundo há mais de um século, é um exemplo: tem de tudo, menos a história de Don Quixote. O libreto de Marius Petipa foi reduzido a uma simples história de amor de dois jovens, proibido pelo pai. Don Quixote vira um mero coadjuvante que mais atrapalha que ajuda. Andanças sem nexo e um quarto ato que não acrescenta nada aniquilam de vez a história.

Os belos números de dança fazem Don Quixote pertencer ao repertório de todo bom teatro. Marius Petipa sabia coreografar, abusou da irreverência e utilizou um tema exótico e popular na época, a calorosa Espanha. Muitas de suas peças ganharam popularidade e são apresentadas nas noites de gala e em concursos pelo mundo afora. A quantidade e a beleza das coreografias fazem quase todo o corpo de baile se apresentar. Todos ficam felizes e o público aplaude de pé. O balé em questão não tem absolutamente nada a ver com a grande obra de Cervantes. Tem grandes números de dança, agradam ao respeitável público, que muitas vezes sai extasiado do teatro. A história é mais ingênua que novela das 6.

A música de Leon Minkus é de uma pobreza alarmante. Simples e direta, nem lembra a ensolarada Espanha de Don Quixote. Encaixa com as coreografias de Petipa, mas não empolga. Não tem um grande tema, uma grande melodia.
A produção do Mariinsky ballet é primorosa. Importantes detalhes como cores de figurinos e luz combinam e nos levam ao fantástico. Os solistas se apresentam com boas performances. A Kitri da bailarina Olesia Novikova é ingênua e exala uma beleza no frescor da juventude. Segue todos os grandes passos do balé, esses de grau de dificuldade máximo. Seus fouettes são firmes e muitas vezes duplos. Uma das grandes características dessa personagem são os saltos. Os de Novikova não são tão elevados quanto deveriam, seus solos são vistosos, sua técnica segue a tradição russa, apurada. Seu melhor momento foi o grand pas de deux do quarto ato. Uma boa bailarina, mas nada que deixe saudades.

Leonid Safaranov é mais um bailarino bonitão. Baixinho como o Catatau (amiguinho do Zé Colméia), de técnica impressionante e grandes saltos. Empresta grande dignidade ao personagem Basilio.

O corpo de baile do Mariinsky está impecável nos diversos solos e números que acontecem no decorrer dos quatro atos. A orquestra se porta com precisão, devem conhecer a partitura de cor. Os cenários e figurinos são impecáveis na beleza e no acabamento, mostram o padrão Marrinsky de balé. Há gente que afirma que o teatro está em decadência. Não vimos isso nas apresentações. As crianças são um espetáculo à parte, não se intimidam com o palco e fazem seu papel com bravura.

Uma grande gravação, um excelente balé produzido pelo Marrinsky. Imagens e direção de câmeras de boa qualidade. Indicado para quem gosta de ver técnica apurada com alto grau de dificuldade. Números estonteantes, que contagiam o espectador, apesar da fraqueza do libreto.

Ali Hassan Ayache . São Paulo, Brazil.

Yes! I Agree im waiting for the Natalia Osipova - Don Quixote, i think she's the best role for Kitri to light the stage on fire.And i also saw her Flames of Paris PDD in the youtube! well its a breathtaking performance. But for the meantime, i will enjoy this one, until they could release the Osipova - Don Q., anyway this DVD is also nice, Great leads and spectacular to watch!

This production of Don Quixote has excellent ballerinas, wonderful choreography, and beautiful costumes. Olesya Novikova does a great Kitri and is very graceful. She is a joy to watch. Leonid Sarafanov is equally wonderful as Basilio. The Mariinsky Ballet company has created a fiesta of dance and they are one of my favorite Ballets to watch.

The Choreography, Dancing, Dancers and Filming are just great. No doubt about that... The music... woooo.... Minkus must be turning in his grave.
Just listen to the Paris Opera rendition with Aurelie Dupont in the Lead; or Even Paul Connelly conducting the Baryshnikov rendition (Connelly was cursed more by poor recording than his own conducting). You will immediately know the difference. If there was a way I could superimpose some well conducted and recorded piece of the same with someone else competent performing it, I would have rated this 5 star.
No wonder you dont hear too much about the conductor who was in charge of this one.

It is a good recording of famous, but in my opinion, second tier, classical ballet. Primely because the music is so low quality: composer Minkus composed music for Russian Imperial Ballet by yards, so the new productions could be made regularly. Also it was still the time when serious composers did not produce music for full length ballets e.g. before Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, etc., before Diaghilev and Balanchine started to use serious music for their productions. Dancing is great, but there is absolutely no chemistry between the stars. Good camera work though.

An energetic, classic interpretation of Don Quixote. Fluid and masterful; wonderfully colorful and appealing. Excellent video and audio; unfortunately not available in blu-ray format as of my review. This sometimes ignored masterpiece deserves a serious viewing by all lovers of the dance....