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Dance

Don Quixote

A safe celebration of Nureyev
The Australian Ballet
by •
ABR Arts • 17 March 2023
Dance

Don Quixote

A safe celebration of Nureyev
The Australian Ballet
by •
ABR Arts • 17 March 2023
Rudolf Nureyev and Lucette Aldous, 1972 (photograph by Paul Cox)
Rudolf Nureyev and Lucette Aldous, 1972 (photograph by Paul Cox)

The opening night of The Australian Ballet’s 2023 season, commencing with Rudolf Nureyev’s unforgettable Don Quixote, was like a joyous homecoming to all sectors of the audience, from rusted-on subscribers to some of Australia’s most gifted ballerinas, and a host of people who quickly absorbed the vitality of Marius Petipa’s 1872 ballet, which Nureyev loved. This new production, with a 1920s movie opening, is intended for twenty-first-century audiences, as well as celebrating the film version that Nureyev chose to make in 1972 and released in 1973. The audience was clearly happy when the house erupted on the final curtain, and Orchestra Victoria was cheered as generously as the dancers.

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Lee Christofis

Lee Christofis is a Melbourne-based writer on dance and associated arts. From 2006 to 2013 he was Curator of Dance at the National Library of Australia.
Leave a comment
Lee Christofis

Lee Christofis is a Melbourne-based writer on dance and associated arts. From 2006 to 2013 he was Curator of Dance at the National Library of Australia.

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Comments (2)

  • Excellent review. I was there and agreed with everything you have written. Regarding the overall production, I speculated whether a dramaturg would help. The semi-circle of dancers observing the actions is one taboo that irritates me. The gipsies were very "pale" compared to other productions I have seen. Lucette Aldous remains unchallenged as the exemplary Kitri. If you get my meaning, she portrayed "the innkeeper's daughter" as opposed to another version of a more refined Swanhilda.
    Posted by Maggie Lorraine
    20 March 2023
  • Thank you, Lee Christofis. As a dancer in the original production and film, and not yet having seen this current production (Sydney next month), I am thrilled to read your review. I believe I have read between the lines in a couple of comments. But I so appreciate your colourful and critical appraisal, clearly written by someone who liked this production, who knows his dance and music. You give us such a feeling for the production and make it an entertainment for ballet and theatre lovers, as well as an attraction to new theatre-goers. Speaking personally, we have just farewelled a music director who was fiercely independent; who helped take The Australian Ballet on big steps, but was not always popular with artists and audiences. I hope the new one can maintain independence while breaching that gap between his own artistic integrity, ballet directors wishes and dancers' needs. Thank you again.
    Posted by Graeme Hudson
    20 March 2023

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