Stars: Aurelie Dupont, Manuel Legris, Paris National Opera Orchestra, Jean-Guillaume Bart, Marie-Agnes Gillot, Delphine Moussin, Clairemarie Osta

Director: Francois Roussillon

Summary: A ballet performance of Don Quichotte accompanied by the Paris Opera and choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev. Music is by Ludwig Minkus, conducted by Ermanno Florio.

Miguel de Cervantes's 1605 classic story has been retold in many forms, and one of the most unique was Rudolf Nureyev's ballet. In this production presented by the Paris opera in April 2000, Aurelie Dupont and Manuel Legris retell episodes from the story's second part which relates the love story between the barber Basile and Kitri, which has a quixotic nature all its own. Among other Spanish influences in this production are the decor and scenery that set designer Alexandre Beliaev based on 'Pastoral Scenes' by the artist Francisco Goya and other Moorish Spanish landscapes, and the costumes by Elena Rivkinal.

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Don Quichotte, composed by Ludwig Minkus for the Bolshoi in 1869, was relatively unknown in the West until Nureyev's new choreography--which naturally gave him centre stage as Basile--was introduced at the Vienna State Opera in 1966. A later production in 1981 forms the basis for this 2002 success by the Paris Opera.

Don Quichotteis in some ways a misnomer for the ballet. Rather than being the dominant character, here the beloved hero of Cervantes' original novel and tilter at windmills is a catalyst for the troublesome events which beset the love story of Basile and Kitri. The dream in which the knight encounters the queen of the dryads becomes a glittering fault in the narrative. But there is no doubting the fluid delights of the pas de deuxbetween Basile (Manual Legris) and Kitri (the enchanting Aurélie Dupont), always literally several steps ahead of their would-be romance spoilers, which rather overshadow the pathos of Jean-Marie Didière's Quichotte. Nureyev's triumph, though, remains the teeming ensemble dances that reaffirm the close marriage between Minkus's score and the unfolding drama, here immeasurably enhanced by Alexandre Beliaev's Goya-esque designs. Ermanno Florio's musical direction keeps the pace light and busy.

On the DVD:Don Quichotteis presented in 16:9 video aspect ratio with a choice of stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS (by far the best) soundtracks: the quality is all you'd expect of a standard modern television broadcast, although the subtleties of the theatrical lighting don't always shine through. Extras are limited to previews of other TDK releases. --Piers Ford

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Region:	Region 0
Year:	2002
Release Date:	February 3, 2003
Runtime:	122 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	D V B L D Q
Keywords:	Music, Don, Ballet, Dance, Wide, Screen, Quixote, Performance, Plays, Rudolf, Performing, Arts, Nureyev's, Quichotte
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts