San Francisco Ballet: Don Quixote!
 |
Vanessa Zahorian in Tomasson/Possokhov's Don Quixote. Photo © Erik Tomasson |
San Francisco Ballet - Outstanding Don Quixote!
 |
Sarah Van Patten in Tomasson/Possokhov's Don Quixote. Photo © Erik Tomasson |
Originally choreographed by Alexander Gorsky and Marius Petipa premiering in 1869 at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, SF Ballet’s Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson and Choreographer in Residence Yuri Possokhov restaged Don Quixote in 2003 for SF Ballet.
The story tells how Don Quixote (sharply played by Jim Sohm) accompanied by his trusty servant Sancho Panza (the comedic Pascal Molat) searches for his ideal woman, Dulcinea, based on a book he read, thus he sets off on an adventure to find her: Don Quixote arrives on a white horse and Panza on a donkey at a market square in Barcelona to find Kitri, a lovely young woman (refreshingly and elegantly danced by the ethereal Vanessa Zahorian) whose father, Lorenzo (Ricardo Bustamante) wants her to marry the grotesque, older - and very rich – Gamache (brilliantly played by Myles Thatcher). However, this plan never works – and of course Kitri already has a true love, the young, handsome – and poor – barber, Basilio (the athletic and vibrant Joan Boada).
 |
Vanessa Zahorian and Joan Boada in Tomasson/Possokhov's Don Quixote. Photo © Erik Tomasson |
Highlights of Act I are the tour de force solos and the pirouette sequence by Zahorian passing a line of Toreadors in vibrant orange, turquoise and black costumes by Pakledinaz, and the lovely duo of Kitri’s two friends (Dores André) and (Courtney Elizabeth) who related well to each other and the audience, whenever they were on stage throughout the ballet. Act I ends with so much fun and movement from the corps of Sequidilla as well as the Toreadors twirling their capes in the air.
 |
Pauli Magierek and Hansuke Yamamoto in Tomasson/Possokhov's Don Quixote. Photo © Erik Tomasson |
Kitri and Basilio escape and find short lived solace among a group of gypsies. If Act I was light and festive, Act II comprised three different sensory moods. The first scene with colorful characters was dark and sultry with a group of earthy gypsies. The Gypsy Leader (Hansuke Yammoto) and Gypsy Woman (Daniele Santos) danced together with sexy charisma and presence, supported by a wonderfully athletic gypsy ensemble.
Pakledinaz’ imaginative set comprised a windmill with frayed edges of the canvas sails, a silhouette of a tree and a beautiful moon, lit beautifully by James F. Ingalls with a blue/gray sky. Costumes were of many colors - a highlight dance was Santos’ Gypsy Woman in a long skirt that swirled in interesting sections as she pirouetted. Minkus’ music was interesting and moodier than the sunny Act I.
Next came a lovely pas de deux by Kitri and Basilio, elegant, light and precise yet romantic and fluid to rapturous music.
A Cart opened to show two marionettes – what a joy, they move carefully - and then the realization that they were very young students from the SF Ballet School was magical as they moved without strings so authentically. I loved this moment. Audible gasp from the audience, too!
Mime was very well used to tell certain moments in the story, such as when Quixote and Panza arrive on horse and donkey again, as Kitri and Basilio escape. Don Quixote mistakes the heroine as Dulcinea and he rips the cart apart in anger.
 |
Clara Blanco in Tomasson/Possokhov's Don Quixote. Photo © Erik Tomasson |
Don Quixote’s dream sequence was one of the loveliest moments I have experienced in a ballet. Breathtaking. Pakledinaz’ fairy tale set with green boughs overhanging a giant archway with a dark blue starry twinkling sky – glimmering pastel shades of green/blue silky costumes was simply stunning. The corps de ballet of Driads staged in different formations around the space performed exquisitely, led by their Queen (Sofiana Sylve) and a very compelling Cupid (Clara Blanco). This scene included about seven Little Cupids (students of the San Francisco Ballet) who did a wonderful job. How exciting for them to have such an experience as part of this production.
The final Act included several magnificent solos and duos by Zahorian and Boada and ended on a very high note. This is a world class production that is well worth seeing – and a wonderful way to spend an evening.
The next SF Ballet Season resumes in San Francisco in 2013 but you can see a SF Ballet School Student Showcase on May 30th – June 1st 2012.
SF Ballet is on Tour Summer / Fall 2012:
Hamburg, Moscow and Sun Valley Idaho (June);
London (September);
Washington D.C. (November)
http://www.sfballet.org/tickets/ontour
More Information - SF Ballet Website:
Jo Tomalin Ph.D.
Follow @JoTomalinJo Tomalin Ph.D.
____________________________________________________________________________________