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If one doesn’t look upon the Bolshoi DQ as a great piece of art, but a world class entertainment, then it can be the source of innocent pleasure and joy. The first act is the least interesting of all – toreador, fans, fish dives … this is all fine, but don’t look for anything exalted there, for one well executed flamenco dance has more Spanish spirit and spirituality in it than the whole Don Quixote.

Natalia Osipova. Well, she is charming, young and very eager to please the audience. She galloped thru the bravura of the first act and the Grand Pas of the 3rd with aplomb and self possession, admirable in someone so young.

I was concerned about her ability to portray Dulcinea in Don Quixote'w Dream scene. No need, as it turned out. She was sensitive and romantic, filling the stage with her natural charm! And what a scene it is! Even in somewhat streamlined Bolshoi version, one could clearly appreciate the genius of Marius Petipa, that Mozart of choreography. DQ Dream scene, like some precious jewel, shone thru the variety-like pieces of the surrounding scenes.

The biggest disappointed here was Ekaterina Shipulina as The Queen of Dryads. I had secretly hoped that Nelli Kobahidze might be given this opportunity, but it didn’t happen. Shipulina, this thoroughly modern woman, was just going through the classical steps, rather heavily at that, devoid of even a hint of romanticism.
 

Ivan Vasiliev performed some truly spectacular jumps and turns. But I would have preferred a more mature dancer and a sturdier partner for the role of witty barber Basil. Young Krysanova was strong in the 1st variation of the Grand Pas. I must say that the whole troupe looked stronger, younger and more alive now than the last time I saw them. I couldn’t help but thinking that every dancer in the company had to be exceptional, selected from thousands of talented, musical and artistic dancers, infamous Bolshoi b l a t not withstanding

The troupe was warmly received by the audience. And Natalia Osipova proved that her fame was well deserved, although I won’t go out of my way to see her again just as I won’t go out of my way to see this particular production of Don Quixote.