Acosta’s Don Quixote tilts again
- Robert Beale
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Carlos Acosta is bringing his Birmingham Royal Ballet production of Don Quixote back to Salford's Lowry from March 5-7.
Last seen in Salford in 2022, this production of the classic ballet, originally created by Marius Petipa to music by Ludwig Minkus, was also filmed for cinema and broadcast on BBC TV, where it has been seen by over 95,000 people.
This time it will feature guest dancers from the National Ballet of Canada, as well as BRB’s own stars. The ballet will be restaged by Christopher Saunders, with designs by Tim Hatley, video design by Nina Dunn, lighting by Peter Mumford, and a new musical arrangement by Hans Vercauteren,
Don Quixote was the first full-length work Acosta created, in 2013, for the Royal Ballet in London. It shows the Don on his quest to track down his true love, with his loyal friend and servant, Sancho Panza, and with a major role for Kitri, the village girl Don Quixote conflates with his imaginary lady Dulcinea.
For his 2022 Birmingham version, Acosta said: “This is a completely new production with new concept and designs, reorchestration, new elements of the choreography, new colours, a whole new palette.
“Don Quixote is a ballet for virtuosos, one that gives opportunities to a large ballet company because there are a lot of roles for everyone. It’s a real showcase.”
The work runs for almost three hours, and changes aspects of the London Royal Ballet version - including using projection for the famous windmill for Quixote to tilt at, and bringing a floral extravaganza to the third act.
As in 2022, Acosta’s two companies – BRB and Acosta Danza – appear to compete with each other, as this year Acosta Danza is in Manchester in April, with his Carmen.
More info and tickets here