Don Quixote - Royal Opera House

Statue of Don Quixote

This was, surprisingly, my first time inside the hallowed walls of the Royal Opera House. I liked it, but not as much as the Coliseum.

Don Quixote the ballet is simple story-wise: the titular Don leaves home with the buffoonish Sancho Panza on a quest to do chivalrous deeds in the manner of medieval knights errant. Most of the ballet focuses on the love story between Kitri, the daughter of an innkeeper, and Basilio, an impecunious barber, residents of the village Don Quixote happens upon. Don Quixote eventually manages to get Kitri's disapproving father to bless their match, and happiness ensues.

Yasmine Naghdi and Marcelino Sambé were excellent as Kitri and Basilio - dancing aside (which I certainly can't fault), they had great chemistry and vibrant smiles, and I liked Kitri's poppy-esque costume. The role of Kitri involved more successive pirouettes(?) than I think I've ever seen performed before. Don Quixote (Gary Avis) was a sympathetic character - kind, well-intentioned, prone to delusions - his visions of Dulcinea (Gina Storm-Jensen), his imaginary Lady, were quite moving.

I enjoyed the variety of scenes and sets, including Don Quixote's bedroom and the sun-baked Spanish village where most of the action took place. My favourite bit was Act II, featuring gypsies, Don Quixote mistaking a windmill for a monster, and a dream interlude in a magic garden, presided over by the Queen of the Dryads (Claire Calvert). The gypsy scenes were atmospheric, especially with the flamenco moves around the fire, and the magic garden set was exquisite, with big flowers hanging over the stage and sparkly different coloured tutus worn by the dryads. My second favourite was the wedding scene, because I loved the dancing. In these ballet village scenes I enjoy observing the interactions of the 'village people' (not those village people) while they watch the dancing. There was a couple on a roof terrace overlooking the village square who added a certain je ne sais quois to the proceedings.

The 'villain' of the piece was a big box of tissues brought by the sickly couple next to me. It was positioned in such a way that a sizeable part of it jutted over the edge of the ledge immediately in front of us. We were seated at a right angle to the stage, and the jutting box obscured part of my view, which was already somewhat obscured. I would've said something at the first interval, but thankfully they re-positioned the box themselves. Oh, the trials of the Royal Opera House!

photo credit: Zygia El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha via photopin (license)

Next: HMS Pinafore