The Royal Ballet's Don Quixote delivers a crowd-pleasing romp

Vadim Muntagirov as Basilio in Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote

Mayara Magri as Mercedes in Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote

Ryoichi Hirano as Espada in Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote

Marianela Nuñez as Kitri and Vadim Muntagirov as Basilio in Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote

Vadim Muntagirov and Marianela Nuñes in Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote

By Vikki Jane Vile, 02 October 2023

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“The whole cast is foot perfect, a rare performance without a single notable wobble”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 30 September 2023

Don Quixote (Carlos Acosta, Marius Petipa)

The Royal Ballet

Valery Ovsyanikov, Conductor

Tim Hatley, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Hugh Vanstone, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Vadim Muntagirov, Dancer

Marianela Núñez, Dancer

Ryoichi Hirano, Dancer

Mayara Magri, Dancer

Gary Avis, Dancer

Thomas Whitehead, Dancer

Nadia Mullova-Barley, Dancer

Sae Maeda, Dancer

Acosta's Don Quixote for BRB: polished but not quite enough panache

Jonathan Gray, 23rd April

Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote for Birmingham Royal Ballet returned to Sadler's Wells with polished but low-key interpretations across the board.

***11

Nutcracker in Havana: a novel take on the popular ballet

Graham Watts, 1st November

A unique take on a well-worn favourite, Carlos Acosta has done a good job on his Havana based Nutcracker.

***11

Carlos Acosta's full-length Carmen is hot but it doesn't sizzle

Deborah Weiss, 2nd July

Carlos Acosta's Carmen is full of exuberance and first class dancing but it doesn't quite set the stage on fire.

***11

Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote thrills at the National Ballet of Canada

Gianmarco Segato, 1st June

Superstar dancer Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote debuts at the National Ballet of Canada, showcasing thrilling dancing in a sumptuous, sun-filled Spanish setting.

*****

Carlos Acosta: On Before inspires rapturous standing ovations

Kathy Elgin, 16th February

Carlos Acosta can still draw in the crowds and this carefully chosen programme is well worth watching.

***11

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Black Sabbath – The Ballet A hit or a miss?

Graham Watts, 27th September

A remarkable merging of two of Birmingham's greatest cultural institutions.

***11

More reviews...

Vikki Jane Vile

Vikki Jane Vile has been reviewing dance for over ten years, specialising in Ballroom and Ballet. In 2018, she became a member of the Critics' Circle for Dance. Vikki writes for BroadwayWorld and previously Dancing Times, LondonDance.com and CultureWhisper. She also prides herself on being a Strictly Come Dancing connoisseur since its inception and has appeared on BBC radio and several podcasts as an expert on all things Strictly. Having lived in London for ten years, she is now based in Germany and adapting to the Berlin dance scene.